A Hurricane Might Hit Louisiana This Weekend — Here's What to Know If You’re Traveling

Storm system Barry began impacting the deep south on Thursday morning, with heavy rains in Louisiana. The state is predicted to receive up to 20 inches of rain in the coming days.

For now, the National Weather Service [NWS] is calling it “Potential Tropical Cyclone Two.” It is expected to officially become a tropical storm by Thursday evening, and potentially develop into Hurricane Barry by Saturday, when it makes landfall.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the Louisiana Coast. More than 4 million people are under flash flood watch from south-central Louisiana to the western Florida panhandle.

“This is going to be a Louisiana event with coastal flooding and heavy rainfall potentially impacting every part of the state,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said, declaring a state of emergency. “No one should take this storm lightly. As we know all too well in Louisiana, low intensity does not necessarily mean low impact.”

NEW: NOAA's GOES16 shows a "sandwich loop" -- a combination of visible and infrared imagery -- of Potential Tropical Cyclone this morning. predicts it will become a Tropical Depression later today.

Courtesy of NOAA

The storm is relatively slow-moving, which means it could linger with relentless rain in Louisiana.

Already, New Orleans received 10 inches of rain on Wednesday, with widespread street flooding.

Telemachus Street in New Orleans is flooded after flash floods struck the area early on July 10, 2019

SETH HERALD/Getty Images

Travelers heading to the southeast this weekend should check with their airlines regarding flight status.

JetBlue will waive change fees for flights to and from Louisiana booked through Saturday, July 13. Travel must be rebooked by July 20.

Alaska Airlines is waiving change fees for flights booked for July 11 and 12 to or from Houston and New Orleans. New travel must be rebooked before July 16.

United passengers with travel booked to the southeast from July 11 through 14 can rebook for flights through July 21. The waiver affects flights to and from Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Jackson and Gulfport, Mississippi; and Ft. Walton Beach, Panama City and Pensacola Florida.

Why You Shouldn't Be Loyal to Frequent Flier Programs

Updated: 6/29/18 | June 29th, 2018

A few years ago, I wrote a post about joining frequent flier programs. At the time, I was in the process of picking one to join, but now I feel the post is a bit dated, and my thoughts on the subject have changed as I’ve started to get more into mileage programs and accumulating frequent flier miles. Which means it’s a good time to write a new post on the topic.

Back in 2008, I was going to join the JAL awards program because it partnered not only with Oneworld but also a few other airlines I enjoy, like Emirates. In the end, I joined American Airlines, which is also a Oneworld partner.

I joined American over JAL because I realized that when you don’t fly that much (and back then, I didn’t), it’s much harder to earn airline miles when you aren’t racking up points by using a travel credit card. So I picked American since it partnered with JAL, and I could use its credit card to get bonus miles and miles from my day-to-day spending.

Now, close to ten years after that first post, I believe that unless you are a super flier, you shouldn’t stick to one airline or airline alliance. Using credit cards and special offers will get you all the extra points and miles you need to get free flights on any alliance. There’s no need to be loyal. The only thing gained by being loyal to one airline is elite status and the amazing perks that come with it.

(But if you spread out your flights among too many different carriers, you’ll dilute your mileage balance. It will take you ages to earn enough miles to redeem them for a free flight, and you definitely won’t fly enough on one airline to gain elite status — it takes 25,000 miles on most airlines to get the lowest elite status, and nowadays, they require a certain level of spend with the airline or on their credit card too. Most people don’t fly or spend that much per year.)

That said, elite status is all I care about. I want the extra perks — the free baggage, airport lounges, priority boarding, and free upgrades. I will pay more for a ticket and be loyal, because, in the end, the perks make the higher price worth it — for me.

For the casual flier, I don’t believe loyalty is worth it.

I used to say that if you can fly 50,000 miles or more, it’s worth focusing on one airline and alliance because the perks are worth the extra price (especially the international lounges). But now, the major airlines in the United States do not value your loyalty anymore. They are only rewarding their high-spending clients with deep pockets — not their frequent clients. Travel 100,000 miles a year, but on just a few cheap tickets? Great — that will earn you a pat on the back. Spend $20,000 on a few high-priced tickets? The red carpet is rolled out for you! So with the heightened spending requirements, reduced benefits, and overall “F U” attitude airlines have, it doesn’t make sense to be loyal to an airline if you aren’t a high-spending traveler.

Right now, I have no airline status. Most of my flights for the rest of the year are long-haul international flights — the kind I always use points on, so I can fly for free in business class. Most of my paid, status-earning flights will be cheap domestic flights. I’m simply not going to be able to meet the new spending requirements for status — for any airline.

I’m flying Alaska/Virgin, JetBlue, and Southwest a lot more lately. These airlines don’t have baggage fees; they do have friendlier staff and better in-flight products (hello, free gate-to-gate wi-fi on JetBlue!), and the experience is leagues better than the big three!

So, it makes sense to be loyal when you’re a high-spending road warrior. If you’re always staying in hotels or flying tens of thousands of miles per year, staying loyal will get you a lot of added benefits.

But why pay more if you’re only going to fly a few thousand miles per year? Don’t be loyal. Just go on price. If you know you aren’t going to meet the elite status threshold, why pay extra? Unless you have a real affinity for one airline, the benefits you get for your “loyalty” aren’t worth the added price you’re going to pay for your fare.

There are so many ways to get free miles these days that if you’re just a casual, few-times-per-year flier, you’re better off using those methods to get free business or first-class tickets, which give you all the elite perks for that one flight anyway.

I do think everyone should sign up for frequent flier programs. That way, when you use a company, you’re accumulating rewards. Never miss a chance to get rewards! I’m a member of every airline and hotel loyalty program for this reason.

But if you’re only taking a couple of trips per year, there’s no reason to be loyal to one program. Save yourself money and go with the cheapest ticket.

The Ultimate Guide to Travel Hacking

This book shows you how to take money out of the travel equation and and master the points and miles game. It will show you how to easily collect and redeem travel points for free airfare and accommodation so you can get you out of your house faster, cheaper, and in comfort. Click here to learn more about the book and how it can help you, and you can start reading it today!

Ryan Reynolds Is Teaming Up With Richard Branson to Bring You Gin on Virgin Atlantic Flights

Virgin Atlantic's flights just got a little more enticing thanks to “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds.

Reynolds, alongside Virgin founder Richard Branson, announced his Aviation American Gin will soon be available on all Virgin Atlantic flights. This duo couldn’t just announce the partnership in a simple press release, so instead they released a video about the new onboard drink option.

"At Aviation we're totally focused on making the best damn gin on the planet,” Reynolds deadpans. "In order to maximize shareholder value, we are pleased to announce Virgin Atlantic and Aviation are merging."

Branson quickly interjects, "Actually, Ryan, this is more of a partnership announcement. Virgin Atlantic will now be serving Aviation gin.”

“Yes,” Reynolds said. “At first.”

The actor then announces his new name for the company: AvaVirgination. And then Branson walks off set. (Watch the video above.)

Related: Richard Branson's Business Trips Put Everyone Else's Vacations to Shame

For those actually intrigued to taste the gin on their next flight, it comes with flavor notes including “juniper, lavender, anise, sarsaparilla, orange peel and cardamom,” according to Masters of Malt. Such a delicious onboard drink choice should come as no surprise when you consider that Virgin Atlantic is often considered one of the best in the business for its food choices.

“Working with Ryan and his team on this partnership has been so exciting. Aviation Gin is a true icon born out of a spirit of innovation, so serving it on board Virgin Atlantic flights seemed like a natural combination,” Branson added in a more serious note on Virgin Atlantic’s blog.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin for years,” Reynolds added. “For Aviation to be chosen as the gin of choice for such an iconic and quintessentially British brand is a complete honor. We look forward to serving Virgin Atlantic guests for years to come and, on a personal note, Sir Richard has promised to teach me the difference between revenue and profit, so I am beyond excited.”

You Can Fly Singapore Airlines’ New First Class Suites for (Almost) Free on This One Route (Video)

You don’t have to be rich to fly Singapore Airlines’ opulent first-class suites. You just need some airline miles and this simple strategy.

Singapore Airlines currently flies Airbus A380s with the new suites aboard certain flights from its hub at Singapore Changi to Hong Kong, London Heathrow, Shanghai Pudong, Sydney, and Zurich. Unfortunately, saver-level award tickets (those that cost the fewest amount of miles) are non-existent on almost all of these flights. Almost.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find award tickets on the longer-haul routes, like those to London and Sydney. Flights with the new suites do not even show up on most award searches. However, there is one route where you can find saver-level space nearly every day of the week.

That route is from Shanghai to Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates four flights in each direction on this route daily, so before you book, you need to make a note of the following flight numbers and times, which are the only ones with the new suites on them.

Singapore Airlines flight SQ830 departs Singapore Changi at 9:45am and arrives at Shanghai Pudong at 3:05pm. (Note: This flight’s scheduled time will shift slightly starting on October 28, but the flight number remains the same.)

Singapore Airlines flight SQ833 departs Shanghai Pudong at 4:50pm and arrives in Singapore at 10:20pm.

You will need 50,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to book a one-way award. Don’t let that number scare you, though, since there are plenty of ways to rack up those miles quickly.

How to Search and Book a Singapore Airlines Award Ticket

In order to book an award in a suite, you will need to use Singapore Airlines’ award search engine and its own KrisFlyer frequent-flier program miles. If you do not have a KrisFlyer account, sign up for one here. It only takes a minute.

You should sign up for KrisFlyer anyway because the program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. If you have any number of credit cards that earn these three types of points, you will be able to transfer them into your KrisFlyer account when you want to book an award on Singapore Airlines or its other airline partners.

When you are ready to search for awards, go to Singapore Airlines’ website and log into your account. Under the “Book a trip” tab, click “Redeem flights,” then enter your search airports and dates.

Some dates might not have any saver-level award availability on the specific flights with suites, and some might have only “Waitlist” space. Don’t get discouraged. I found plenty of awards in October-January, then in March and beyond. I suspect that February has less award availability on this specific route because of the Chinese New Year when many people tend to be traveling.

Interestingly enough, there is a lot more award availability in the direction from Shanghai to Singapore than from Singapore to Shanghai. So if you have plans that take you to China, or you want to take advantage of the country’s visa-free transit policy in Shanghai where you can stop over for up to 144 hours before continuing on to a third country, this might be just the opportunity you need to book a Singapore Airlines award.

KrisFlyer will charge you 50,000 miles in each direction plus 90 RMB ($13) from Shanghai, or $47 SGD ($34) from Singapore. That might seem like a lot of miles, but for this level of luxury on a flight that lasts over five hours, it’s an amazing value. Especially considering that paid airfares for the new suites currently range anywhere from $2,500-$7,500 one-way depending on the date and the route that you book.

If you do find an award that works for your travel schedule, you should transfer points from one of your linked accounts with Amex, Chase or Citi immediately since transfers can take 12-48 hours to go through.

Why You'll Want to Fly in Singapore's First Class Suites

Still having doubts? Here’s a reminder of what’s in store if you do end up booking a suite.

Singapore Airlines unveiled the new suites last November as part of a redesign of all the cabins aboard its Airbus A380s. Each jumbo jet has just six of these private sanctuaries total located in the front cabin of its upper deck. Suites are 50 square feet – palatial by in-flight standards – and have closing door for the utmost privacy. However, the first two suites in each row can be combined into doubles in case you are traveling with a companion.

Courtesy of Singapore Airlines

The suites were designed by Pierrejean Design Studio, Paris, and contain not only sleek Poltrona Frau leather armchairs, but also separate twin-size beds (27 inches by 76 inches, to be exact) that stow into compartments when passengers are not using them.

Side consoles hide an oversize dining table that doubles as a work desk, a lit vanity mirror for primping pre-landing and a touchscreen tablet that passengers can use to adjust the suite’s lighting call for service. Those not working can enjoy a range of entertainment options on their own 32-inch, high-definition screen and linger over a leisurely meal created by the airline’s International Culinary Panel of celebrity chefs.

Courtesy of Singapore Airlines

The amenities are provided by storied French luxury brand Lalique, including plush linens and duvets, pajamas, skincare products, and the cut-crystal glasses used for meal service, though the fine china is by Wedgwood.

Suites passengers have two large, spa-inspired lavatories to themselves, one of which has a sit-down vanity counter stocked with more Lalique products such as citrus-scented facial mist and body lotion.

The Best Times to Visit Australia for Perfect Weather and Cheap Flights (Video)

Whether you’re seeking sun or avoiding sharks, follow this guide to plan a dream trip to the land down under.

Australia is one of the world’s biggest countries, so when to go depends entirely on where you’re going. From the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, to the vineyards scattered across the country, to Sydney’s sprawling beaches, Australia has something to offer every type of traveler.

Getty Images

Related: 9 of the Best Places to Stay in South Australia

Here's the best time of year to see all of Australia's greatest sights and attractions.

The Best Months to Visit Australia

Seasons in Australia are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December through February, and winter from June through August. The exact type of weather you'll experience depends largely on the region.

Darwin, in the Northern Territory, sees temperatures in the high 70s during the winter and can have no rainfall at all, but summers are extremely hot, with serious downpours.

In southern Australia, including Adelaide and Melbourne, summer temperatures often hover in the low 70s, and winters are cool. Pack a few sweaters as well as pieces for warmer weather, no matter the time of year. Kangaroo Island, just southeast of Adelaide, shares a similar climate. Visit in January or February for warm beach weather — and to catch baby ‘roos hopping around.

The Best Times to Visit the East Coast

Australia’s East Coast is usually considered the stretch from Cairns, in the north, to Melbourne, in the south, and is the most convenient area to get to from the United States. It’s also incredibly vast — travelers could easily spend more than 40 hours driving top to bottom, with no traffic and no stops, so the weather and scenery vary.

The Best Times to Visit the Great Barrier Reef

Up north, the Great Barrier Reef tends to be warm year-round, and in the summer temperatures can rise to nearly 90 degrees, with plenty of tropical rain. Here, wet season comes in the summer and spring, which slows the stream of tourists. While this may not be the ideal time to visit Australia's famous reefs for weather, it's preferable for travelers interested in avoiding crowds.

The Best Times to Visit the Gold Coast

About an hour’s drive from Brisbane is the Gold Coast, and it's known for having beautiful weather most of the year. (A particularly popular Gold Coast beach destination is Surfers Paradise.) More than 500 miles south of the Gold Coast is Sydney, a cultural center famous for beautiful beaches including Coogee, Manly, and Bondi. Temperatures in the winter are slightly chilly, with some rain. If a beach holiday is on your agenda, summer is perfect, as temperatures are warm. But if you prefer a more active vacation, spring and autumn are ideal.

The Best Times to Visit South Australia

Don’t confuse South Australia with southern Australia: the former is one of Australia’s six states. Adelaide, the capital, definitely earns less attention than bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but it’s a perfect jumping off point for the multitude of vineyards nearby. Most of this state is actually considered “outback” — i.e. remote. Highlights include the underground opal mining town, Coober Pedy, and a road trip along the stretch of highway through Nullarbor National Park.

If you’re headed into the outback, consider that temperatures can rise in the summer, becoming uncomfortable and potentially unsafe. In Nullarbor, the winter can be the best time — July and August are peak whale season. As for Adelaide and the surrounding area, you’re safe year-round when it comes to weather. Winter temperatures don’t drop tend to drop below about 45 degrees, and in the autumn and spring, they can be as warm as the low 70s. In summer, they don’t usually rise past the low 80s, although heat waves aren’t unheard of.

The Best Times to Visit Australia’s Beaches

From Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with its iconic pool set just above the sea, to the bright, white sand and turquoise waters of the Whitsundays Islands, Australian beaches are hard to beat. The best way to decide which to visit? Follow the weather.

It’s important to note that just because there’s a beach doesn’t mean you can go swimming. Some places have saltwater crocodiles, box jellyfish, or other creepy ocean critters. Pay attention to signage and ask locals if you have any doubts.

Still, don’t let a fear of sharks factor into your plans. Rodd Stapley, Shark Expert for Taronga Zoo, told Travel + Leisure the safest season to avoid sharks can vary each year due to changes in the environment. To minimize risks, Stapley recommends swimming in ocean pools or netted beaches, and between lifeguard flags.

A bigger risk to swimmers and even waders at Australian beaches are riptides, which are common here. Learn the signs, including dark water and fewer waves breaking. Only swim between the flags on lifeguarded beaches, and if you do get caught in a rip, swim parallel to the shoreline to get out of it.

The Best Months to Visit Australia's Wine Country

From Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, to Swan Valley, slightly north of Perth, there are more than 60 wine regions scattered across the country. It’s easy to find good wine no matter the time of year, but if you’re trying to make Pinots and Sauvignons the main event, many regions hold wine festivals. Late autumn is a popular time for harvest festivals, so plan to visit in April, May, or early June.

Related: The Best Wine Tours in South Australia

If you’re hoping to pack as many vineyards as possible into your stay, head to South Australia. Almost one third of the country’s wine regions are here, and there are more than 200 cellar doors where you can try them. Within two hours drive of Adelaide, try vineyards in Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley or Adelaide Hills. Because South Australia’s weather is fairly mild, there isn’t a bad time to visit.

If you’re looking for sunny strolls through the vineyard and don’t mind high temperatures, go in summer. For people who prefer pleasant warmth to hot heat, spring and autumn have beautiful weather, and if the idea of getting cozy near an open fire with a glass of shiraz appeals, don’t be put off visiting in winter. One caveat: June is the wettest month (though Adelaide is the least rainy and least humid of the Australian capitals).

The Worst Times to Visit Australia

Generally, it’s best to avoid the south’s chilly winters and the far north’s hot, wet summers.

But crowds are also a consideration. Students get a break from mid-December until late January (or even early February), which means packed beaches and more expensive domestic airfare. Australia is a popular backpacker destination, so tourist favorites tend to be busy anyway, but book your trip in late spring or early autumn to strike a balance between great weather and manageable crowds.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Australia

It has to be said: there’s no truly cheap time to visit the Antipodes. December and January tend to be most expensive, likely due to holiday travel and the prime summer weather. According to data collected by Skyscanner over the past two years, the cheapest months to travel to Sydney and Melbourne from New York City are September and October, respectively, and the cheapest month to travel to Melbourne and Sydney from LAX is November.

If you have flexibility on timing, plan well in advance to find the best deals. If you have less flexibility on schedule but more on destination, try searching a few cities internally and looking at local budget airlines, like Jetstar, to get around once you’re in Australia.

The 14 Best Airline Frequent Flier Loyalty Programs

The loyalty programs of the six biggest U.S.-based carriers have received major overhauls in recent years, with some of them adding spending minimums for achieving elite status, reducing the amount of miles earned per flight, and even limiting the rules for redeeming them for free travel.

Because of those overhauls, many travelers might find it worthwhile to consider the mileage programs of international carriers.

Here’s how you can earn miles, attain elite status, and book award flights on more than a dozen domestic and foreign frequent-flier programs—each of which has at least one major U.S. partner. They are listed in alphabetical order, with the U.S.-based frequent flier programs first, followed by those of the foreign carriers.

*NOTE: All award flights are subject to availability and, for most carriers, are priced by regional zones. Award prices can vary (and are sometimes cheaper) if you fly on a partner airline, which may require telephone booking. Also check the special offers on airline websites for award-redemption discounts.