$477 round-trip flights to Dublin, Ireland on American Airlines

This deal is too good to pass up!  [Deals like this tend to expire quickly so this article may be out of date after December 21, 2015] American Airlines is offering round-trip flights to Dublin for around $500, departing from several major US cities, in March and April 2016.  I recommend using credit cards similar to the Citi Prestige (3 ThankYou Points per dollar spent on airfare) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred (2 Ultimate Rewards per dollar spent on airfare) to maximize the points that you’ll receive on the flight purchase.  In addition, you should use Orbitz to book the ticket because you’ll…


American Airlines A319 – in first class

I was thrilled that an A319 operated the BWI-CLT route and that I would not have to fly an MD-80 (which American is slowly putting out to pasture).  The A319 had 12 first-class seats, so I was less likely to receive a complimentary first-class upgrade on this segment than my other three segments.  Three seats were already full and I was number 7 on the wait list.  Thankfully no first class seats were purchased after I checked Google Flight because my upgrade cleared at the gate about ten minutes prior to boarding.  The gate attendant did not call my name to notify…


CLT Admirals Club Review (it was HUGE)

The Admirals Lounge, at the end of CLT’s C terminal is HUGE!  Upon entering, I checked in with my Citi Prestige Card (provides complimentary Admirals Club access when flying American) and a copy of my boarding pass.  My complimentary first class upgrade hadn’t cleared yet, but my review of Google Flights suggested that my odds of an upgrade were pretty good.  I asked the agent if my upgrade had cleared and he responded with an unfortunate, “you’re number three on the list.”  When I explained that I thought at least 8 of the 16 first class seats were still available, he double…


My first complimentary first-class upgrades just cleared on American Airlines!!!

My first two complimentary first-class upgrades just cleared on American Airlines!!!  In addition to a larger seat located toward the front of the plane, I’ll also receive a meal and unlimited, complimentary beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).  My flight has a layover en route to and from Michigan, so I’ll take advantage of the Admirals Clubs at those airports (a perk of my Citi Prestige card) which also provide complimentary food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).  As a result of the layovers, I’m flying four segments on American metal. Only two segments have cleared (the return trip), so I’m crossing my fingers that the other two…


Cheap American Airlines flights to Beijing and Shanghai in early 2016

Disclaimer – these fares won’t last forever; they’ll likely expire by December 18th. If you live near a major US city, you’ll be able to purchase round-trip flights to Shanghai for under $850 and round-trip flights to Beijing for under $800 in early 2016.  It appears that the cheap flights are only available for trips with at least a two night stay in China (see below for examples).  The fares are easy to find by using Google Flights and screen shots are provided below.  These fares are so cheap that it’s definitely worth it to consider flying American over budget carries.  A trip…


WOW Airlines: What’s it Like to Fly to Europe for $99?

(WOW A321-200 which I flew from BWI to Iceland) I was in the market for a low-cost, round-trip ticket to Europe so I was excited to see WOW Airlines advertise $99* one-way tickets to Europe from select US destinations (Boston and Baltimore).  After verifying that WOW was a legitimate airline, I booked my ticket.  I booked a five-day, $450 round-trip ticket from BWI (Baltimore – Washington DC) to London Gatwick.  My experience on the plane was wonderful given the bargain I received on the plane ticket. WOW Airlines – Ultra-Low Budget Carrier WOW can offer such cheap airfare because it charges…


Microbrews: FINALLY available on these airlines

(left to right: dry-hopped pilsner lager, Belgium tripel ale, bourbon barrel-aged scotch ale) I started brewing my own beer a little over a year ago and I’ve been amazed at the quality of beer that a homebrew kit can produce.  I brew 5 gallon batches of beers that range from bourbon-barrel-aged scotch ales to pilsner lagers.  Six of my seven batches were excellent.  As you can imagine, this hobby makes ordering beer on airplanes a disappointing experience. I recently received good news though–airlines will start carrying a wider selection of microbrews.  According to USA Today, the following microbrews will be offered on flights…


U.S. State Department’s Next-Gen Passport: Coming Soon?

The federal regulation that addresses the soon-to-be-eliminated option to buy additional pages for your passport book also discusses the Next Generation Passport.  We’ve heard that the U.S. State Department is discontinuing the option to buy additional pages for your passport book.  This option is useful when you travel so frequently that your passport book pages fill up before it’s time to renew your passport book. Unfortunately, starting on January 1st, ordering additional passport book pages will not longer be an option–you’ll have to pay for a new passport EVERY TIME the pages fill up.  For comparison, it’s $82 for additional pages but it’s $110 to renew a passport…


[Expired] Deal Alert: $1,348 Round-trip Business Class Airfare from New York to Paris

This deal is too good to pass up!  [deals like this tend to expire quickly so this article may be out of date after December 6, 2015] British Airways is offering cheap business class fares between JFK/EWR and CDG/ORY and availability is WIDE OPEN between now and March 31, 2016.  To find this fare, search using Google Flights.  You’ll see the following availability: This offer should stack with American’s 25,000 bonus redeemable miles offer for flights from the US to Europe flown by January 31st, but you’ll want to register for the promotion on American’s website prior to buying a ticket….


The Traveling Millennial

Hello world!  The Traveling Millennial is intended to provide useful travel advice and reviews to millennials who want balance being a professional with traveling the world.  The millennial generation roughly includes anyone born from the early 1980’s to the early 2000’s which means that millennials range from high school students to graduates of professional schools.  Those entering the work force are faced with demanding jobs that provide unpredictable and short vacation leave.  As a result, it is critical for millennials to use the strategies discussed in this blog to maximize their travel throughout the year. Since entering the work force, I’ve learned…