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Starting the week I wasn't sure if I'd have much to dish out, but oh boy did things change quickly! This week's news is like a supreme pizza – a little bit of everything! We've got cheesy industry updates, some fresh content you'll devour, and a few crusty challenges to overcome. But hey, at least it's not mushrooms, right? … what? You like mushrooms?

Here are 3 headlines, 2 hacks, and 1 question answered this week…

3 Headlines

One.

Google Flights 🤝 Southwest Airlines (LINK)

I can't tell you the last time I flew Southwest. Mainly because I've always just pulled up flights through Google Flights and booked from there. Call it laziness or stubbornness, but I don't want to go into their specific website and try and price-match Google to see which is better. Maybe Southwest finally realized that, and is now showing up on Google Flights! This is a major win for us – more options to choose from without having to do any extra work. Oh, and don't forget: if the price drops after you book, rebook so you can get a voucher for the difference!

Two.

Virgin Atlantic hits ANA with devaluation (LINK)

There's nothing better than a foul ball to the face, and that's what VA just gave us. Virgin Atlantic (VA) surprised us with a sudden devaluation of ANA business class award rates. While you can still book these awards, it's frustrating to see airlines increase mileage requirements without notice. This is a good reminder to "earn and burn" because you never know what’s around the corner.

Three. 

Transferring Avios from British Airways to Finnair is a go (LINK)

For fans of Avios, this is a big win! Several major airlines use Avios as their loyalty currency, and the ability to transfer British Airways (BA) Avios to Finnair Plus opens up new opportunities to book award flights, potentially at lower costs for certain routes. A little hard to explain but this post helps.

Bonus. 

New Marriott Bonvoy property is bookable with points

The Westin Bora Bora is set to open in August of this year and is available to book with points. It’s a great use of points given the base point rooms are over-water bungalows and Marriott’s 5th night free policy when booking with points.

2 Hacks

One.

Speaking of Google Flights, here's a one-two punch to level up your travel game! Meet Points Path, a Google Chrome extension that I constantly use. It seamlessly integrates with Google Flights, displaying point redemption options next to the cash prices. This way, you can easily see if using points for a flight makes sense, potentially saving you money on trips you might have otherwise paid cash for.

Two.

While this one might not seem powerful, everyone would love an extra few inches. Legroom for Google Flights does just what it says. It shows you how much legroom that specific seat has. It’s great for when you just want the cheapest but don’t want to be crammed in like a sardine.

1 Question From You

Every week I answer one question from the community. Reply to this email with yours because you’re probably not the only one that has it.

Question

Ashley asked if I ever book backup flights for international trips.

You should always have a plan B. That being said, I've had positioning flights where I didn't have a backup flight, and it’s come back to bite me in the butt. I always ask myself. If I missed this flight, what flight would I have to book later in the day? If you do book a backup flight, make sure you cancel it so you can get refunded if you make it for the original one you intended. And don't book your backup flight with the same airline. If they are on the same day hours apart, the airline will cancel one of them automatically without telling you, and you'll be left scrambling.