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Apache is functioning normally

Love is in the air … not just for smitten couples and star-crossed lovers, but for ordinary people who have fallen head over heels for their apartments.

For some, apartment living isn’t a stepping stone towards buying a home; it’s a way of life. We asked our readers to tell us exactly what they love about renting, and here’s what they had to say.

For this Madison, WI resident, apartment living hits all the right notes.

For others, it’s the simple conveniences that make apartment living special, and a great view goes a long way toward making an apartment feel like home.

The other residents of an apartment community can make a big difference in everyone’s quality of life. But in the end, it’s the simple things that make an apartment home sweet home.

Looking for inspiration to make your apartment a place you love to call yours? We’ve got plenty of ideas on the AG Blog!

Thanks to all our Facebook fans that responded! Now it’s your turn – what do you love about apartment living?

Photo credits: Shutterstock / laura.h; Facebook

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Last year, an average of over one in five flights were delayed, and about 2% were canceled. While that means most flights went out on time, millions and millions of travelers still found themselves not flying when they hoped.

Another busy travel season is upon us. When flight delays and cancellations do happen, there may not be a ton of additional seats available to simply hop on the next flight in some situations.

Here are tips on how to decrease your chances of getting stuck and increase your chances of arriving at your destination as quickly as possible, even if you get the unwelcome news that you are facing a flight delay — or worse.

How to find out if your flight might be delayed

In the current era of full flights and easily available information, don’t wait for the airline to tell you there is a problem.

You can keep an eye on general flight trends across the country on FlightAware, which gives you a good overview of how a day in the sky looks.

This page focuses on delays. Manually check the status of your flight on your airline’s website in the 24 hours leading up to travel. Also, check where the plane is coming from, if possible.

UNITED.COM

Also, opt in to flight notifications with your airline and download the carrier’s app on your phone. Here are details on that process with American Airlines and United Airlines. You’ll likely have more up-to-date flight departure information from your airline’s mobile app than what’s reflected on the airport departure and arrival boards.

You can also get flight status updates sent directly from FlightAware.

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When to arrive at the airport if your flight is delayed

PEOPLE IMAGE STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

This can be a tricky one. If your flight is still listed as “on time” when you check the app, leave for the airport according to the original schedule.

Even if your flight shows as delayed in the app, it can be subject to change. It’s best to be at the airport ready to go at the originally scheduled time in most cases. We’ve certainly heard stories where the flight is suddenly ready to go sooner than expected, leaving some passengers behind. Sometimes you’ll receive confirmation well in advance that the flight will be significantly delayed. However, it’s safer to be at the airport, just in case.

Bad weather will sometimes cause a temporary ground stop at the airport. As soon as the weather gets better, the stop is lifted, and airlines try to get their flights off the ground ASAP.

Related: 3 things to do if your flight is delayed

What to do if there is bad weather

Monitor weather patterns starting a few days before your flight to see if any major systems are anticipated. It’s then vital to check the forecast on the night before and the day of travel to see how any issues could affect your departure and arrival airports.

Again, be sure to opt in for updates on your flight’s status. If you know bad weather is coming later in the day, ask for an earlier flight if you can. Alternatively, if you leave the night before, that’s a good idea, too.

BYCHYKHIN OLEXANDR/GETTY IMAGES

More and more airlines are allowing travelers to change plans with no fare difference prior to severe weather problems, like impending blizzards, ice storms or even heavy thunderstorms. Some will even proactively change your flight for you.

If you know bad weather is on the horizon, either go to your airline’s website and look for an advisory notice or call the airline to talk about options. If an airline gets ahead of weather issues, you may be able to reschedule your flight by a few days in either direction with no fees. Additionally, you can try asking for a nonstop flight if the weather is putting your connecting flight in jeopardy.

However, if the airline hasn’t issued its own advisory, you could have to pay out of pocket for any fare differences if you really need to get where you are going.

Related: How the weather affects your flight — the atmosphere and winds

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

If a flight delay happens and you want an alternative to waiting it out, check the airline’s app or in-airport kiosk for rebooking options. You don’t have to stand in line to talk to a real person in many cases, as you can self-service the rebooking with most major airlines. In fact, it may be faster to do it online or at a kiosk in the airport — and speed matters. You may be able to rebook at a new flight time or even to a new “nearby” origin or destination city.

There are times when automated rebooking systems are not your best option, though. Sometimes, the only automated option is for a red-eye flight or a future flight heading to your destination more than two days later. That’s especially true with flights as full as they are right now.

If you can’t find what you need online, find an airline employee who knows how to work the ticketing desk. Look at their uniforms and name tags to ensure you get a ticket agent and not a baggage handler or similarly outsourced contractor.

If the U.S. call center has a long hold time (which happens during widespread issues), you can try dialing an international number for faster service. You might also find success reaching out to an airline on Twitter, via chat or other social media channels when customer service lines are busy.

For example, when the first leg of an American Airlines flight from New York City to Arkansas just before Christmas was delayed, TPG editor Madison Blancaflor missed her connection.

She reached out to American Airlines on Twitter to help ensure she was rebooked on the earliest possible flight. She still had to endure a long layover in Charlotte, but it was better (and less stressful) than rushing to the customer service desk to try and rebook upon arrival in Charlotte.

If there are no reasonable booking options left with your carrier, ask if there are options on another airline. If the delay is weather-related, and you are on a basic-economy ticket or are flying on a low-cost carrier, there might not be other airline options at your fingertips. Still, it’s worth asking and — if possible — presenting available options you have researched yourself.

Related: Top tips to get through to airline customer service faster

Retreat to a lounge

If you have airline club access at a United Club, Delta Sky Club or similar, you can head there for help from experienced agents with potentially shorter lines. Use it as a spot to gather your thoughts, charge your phone and make level-headed decisions. The agents there might be able to help you change or track your flight.

In third-party lounges, such as an American Express Centurion Lounge, you won’t be able to get that type of airline-specific assistance, but you’re still probably in a better spot to wait out the storm than in a crowded terminal.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Rebook your flight

Sometimes, if you really need to get home, you may need to do the work and layout for the expenditure for a new flight yourself.

During a delay while traveling from Orlando to Houston when my original carrier couldn’t get me home for more than 24 hours after my initial flight was canceled, I found a nonstop Southwest Airlines flight with one last seat available for $463.

Even though rebooking yourself will not typically be covered by any insurance or carrier, I went for the Southwest option and got my original United ticket refunded, which at least offset some of the pain of a new ticket. In my case, it was worth controlling my own destiny and not being stuck.

Your credit card’s built-in trip delay or trip cancellation coverage can help with many unexpected expenses in the face of delays and cancellations, but a brand-new flight home isn’t likely to be one of them. Still, in some cases, it may be the only way home for a while, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.

Related: When to buy travel insurance vs. when to rely on credit card protections

Check airport hotels

While thinking through what to do in case of a flight delay or cancellation, consider your options at airport hotels, which can fill up if there are major delays and cancellations. Sometimes, it is best to pull the plug on getting home that day, get some good rest and try again in the morning.

Airport hotels are generally pretty affordable on points, although cash rates can skyrocket when demand surges. Accommodations are typically covered by trip delay protection, offered by cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express.*

* Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Show up early for standby flights

If you know in advance that your flight is canceled or delayed, heading to the airport early could score you a same-day standby flight that gets you to your destination early.

For example, a TPG staffer was able to use this strategy to avoid getting stuck overnight when a hiccup with his flight from Austin to New York City would have caused him to miss a connection in Dallas. Since he had A-List status with Southwest, he showed up at the airport a bit earlier and did a free same-day standby onto an earlier flight that connected to a different city. His A-List status bumped him to the top of the standby list and onto the flight.

Getting on the standby list isn’t a foolproof method, especially if the earlier flight is almost full. This is a case where having elite status can help since you’ll have priority over non-elite travelers. Additionally, some airlines charge a fee for non-elite travelers to get on the standby list for an earlier flight.

Related: Best credit cards for airline elite status

How to get a refund or flight compensation

If you decide not to fly your originally scheduled flight in light of major delays and cancellations, get your money or points back. Do not settle for an airline voucher that may be hard to use and eventually expire.

You may have a cancel-and-refund option available to you online or in the airline’s app. If not, you can ask an airline employee for assistance in person or over the phone. Just be sure to cancel your original flight before its eventual departure so you can get the money or miles (hopefully) returned.

Know your rights and take stock of your credit card protections. You’ll have to read some fine print, but you may be entitled to accommodations, credits or expense reimbursement by the airline or from your credit card (usually depending on the length of your delay and the reason for delay or cancellation).

Many travel credit cards offer trip delay insurance that can save you money when you’re stuck somewhere. While it won’t help you avoid cancellations or delays, it could help you cover expenses while you wait for your flight.

Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t

Cards that provide travel protection

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

There are many rewards credit cards that help confer valuable travel protections when you do have a delayed or canceled flight (if you used them to book your flight). Below are just a few examples of cards that provide some built-in coverage:

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Provides a $300 annual travel credit, up to $20,000 in trip cancellation coverage, up to $75,000 in car rental coverage, trip delay benefits of up to $500 per person that kick in starting at a six-hour delay and more.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, emergency assistance services and more.

American Express Platinum: In addition to the extensive lounge benefits and up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, the Platinum card also provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance for up to $20,000 of a covered trip and incident.

Make a decision

Last but not least, we don’t recommend being too indecisive in the face of delays and cancellations. If you are, expect your options to dwindle. Once you finally decide to wait it out or try and switch flights, you will be at the mercy of whatever options the airline has to offer … which may not be great.

As you wait, flight options are likely to disappear as hundreds (or thousands) of other passengers beat you to rebooking. Weigh your realistic options and make a quick decision if you want to keep some control of your schedule.

If you’re OK getting stuck somewhere for a bit or taking a creative route home, waiting for the airline to direct you is a feasible option. Just don’t stress about your decision once you make it.

Your credit card’s built-in travel protections may cover unexpected expenses not covered by the airline (such as a hotel for an overnight weather delay, though not a new flight) if you get stuck during your journey.

In my Orlando example, my original flight was stuck in Denver with a five-hour weather delay, so the odds of that flight getting me where I needed to be that day didn’t seem great. When I didn’t clear standby on the other United flight to Houston from Orlando that night, I made a decision and stuck with it.

I left the terminal and headed to my new Southwest flight in another terminal (Clear and PreCheck helped with that quick transition). Yes, that choice cost me a new flight home, but I had to make that call right then or roll the dice on my United flight making it out that day.

I wasn’t in a gambling mood when it came to getting home, and I understood the out-of-pocket implications.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Bottom line

Most of the time, your flight will get you where you need to be close to when you want to be there. Still, flight delays and cancellations happen.

If your flight is delayed by an hour or two, there’s not usually much to do other than be patient. However, when facing a long delay or cancellation, it’s good to have a plan to reduce the odds of getting stuck.

Given the common theme of full passenger loads on flights these days, acting quickly, researching options and making a speedy decision will put you ahead of the pack.

Related: Best credit cards that offer trip delay reimbursement

Additional reporting by Melissa Klurman, Kristy Tolley, Victoria Walker, Madison Blancaflor, Benji Stawski and Benét J. Wilson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

If you haven’t taken a cruise lately, you might be surprised by the variety of offerings now available. No longer are cruises the sole province of greasy buffets, cheesy dance contests and screaming kids – some of the newer ships are downright luxurious, offering five star dining created by celebrity chefs and onboard activities to rival the fanciest resort. But don’t take my word for it. Here are some down and dirty tips on how to score a cruise vacation so cheap, you’ll almost feel like you took advantage of the cruise company.

Don’t Book in Advance

No, that’s not a typo. I said don’t book in advance. Unlike the airlines, the best cruise deals are usually available at the very last minute. That’s because also unlike the airlines, most people don’t take last minute cruises. (Last minute business trips or hurried flights to see a sick relative mean airlines can afford to jack up prices for people who need to travel immediately.)

But cruises are vacations. People don’t need to scurry last minute, and in fact, they usually have to plan time off work pretty far in advance. That means cruise ships with unsold capacity a few days prior to sailing need to dump it pronto, because they’re unlikely to get a last-minute rush of passengers.

So when is the ideal time to buy? As close to departure as you can. Cruise lines will usually start lowering prices 4-8 weeks prior to sailing, but it’s during the last week or two that you’ll really see prices plummet by over 50%. The cruise companies offer unsold inventory to their employees a week before the cruise. That means anything that does not sell after that goes on an absolute fire sale. The craziest deals are available 2-7 days before departure. We recently scored a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise for $149 by purchasing 4 days out. The original price was $329.

Long Cruises – and Trans-Atlantics

The best deals are often on longer cruises, because most people can’t afford to take off a week or more at a time. In fact, you’ll sometimes find 7+ night cruises selling for the same (or just a bit more) than shorter ones.

But the most screaming deals are on Trans-Atlantic trips. True, these sailings mean a lot of time at sea, but they can sometimes sell for less than 3-night cruises. We recently booked a 13-night trip from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona for just $369. An 11 night from Miami to Southampton, England was on sale a few weeks ago for about $400.

Heck, you’d probably spend that much money on food, alone. You’re basically getting the transportation, lodging, and entertainment for free. And how many people get to say they crossed the Atlantic by sea, stopping in unusual ports like the Azores or Tenerife?

Senior, State Resident, Military and Police Discounts

Most cruises will offer hefty discounts for senior citizens, members of the military, police officers and state residents of the port of departure. But the best news is that depending on how and where you book, these discounts often apply to everyone traveling in the same room –even if only one person qualifies for the discount. Since some accommodations can fit up to four travelers, that means big savings for your party.

Choose the Big Ships

When people book cruise vacations, they usually look at the dates and itineraries first. But checking out the ship’s capacity can yield even bigger benefits. First, the ship is likelier to be newer or offer more restaurants and amenities. More importantly, the extra capacity means more rooms to sell – and the potential for cheaper prices. When comparison shopping, start with the bigger ships first. They’re the likeliest to offer lower-priced fares when compared to smaller ships on similar itineraries.

Mileage & Point Conversions

Got any unused airline miles or hotel, credit card or Amtrak points? Most of these can be readily converted into cruise credits. Depending upon the program, you can either convert into a cash-equivalent or a voucher specifically for cruise purchases. On many major airline programs, 10,000 miles are usually the equivalent of a $100 cruise credit.

Share your tips of how you saved on your last vacation or cruise below. Bon voyage!

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Apache is functioning normally

With the never-ending changes and challenges affecting the U.S. financial landscape, multiple community development entities are helping to counter some of their adverse effects by fostering community development initiatives.

Some examples include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Community Development (CD) Banks. These play a significant role in promoting economic growth and inclusion for underserved communities.

This article thoroughly explores CDFIs and the institutions that support CDFIs, outlining their significance, objectives, and how they meet capacity building initiative requirements. We also highlight the federal government’s involvement, explaining its role evolution and the numerous related economic development activities available to those who need them.

What is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)?

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are a type of financial institution that provides products and services to financially disadvantaged communities for economic development purposes.

They are essential and critical in promoting inclusion and economic growth to marginalized communities in urban and rural communities countrywide. Legislations like the Community Reinvestment Act help encourage these programs. However, the Community Reinvestment Act is not the only reason for their existence.

CDFI Certification

To become a CDFI, a financial institution must apply for a CDFI certification. This certification ensures that the institution can receive the right federal assistance resources and allows people to benefit from the CDFI fund’s programs.

How did the concept of CDFIs start?

The roots of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) extend to the 1880s, when minority-owned banks began serving economically disadvantaged communities. These organizations provided essential financial services to areas that mainstream financial institutions neglected or could not reach.

As the years progressed, new types of mission-driven financial institutions emerged. For example, the development of credit unions in the 1930s and 1940s offered alternatives to the traditional community bank that had limited services.

Moreover, new community development corporations emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, providing additional resources and support for underserved areas. These institutions gradually paved the way for the rise of nonprofit loan funds in the 1980s, establishing the groundwork for today’s modern CDFI model.

The Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 recognized the need to support the growing community development finance sector. With that in mind, it established the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). This fund aimed to promote economic revitalization and community development in low-income areas by investing in and providing assistance to CDFIs.

Since its inception, the CDFI Fund played a substantial role in the growth and impact of CDFIs, enabling them to serve the financial needs of economically disadvantaged communities and contribute to their overall development and prosperity.

Types of CDFIs

Currently, multiple types of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) exist, each catering to the unique needs and challenges economically disadvantaged communities face. We explore their types and roles below.

Community Development Banks

Community Development Banks are for-profit, federal government supported and regulated financial institutions. These institutions have a board of directors that includes community representatives. CD banks provide affordable banking services, loans, and other financial products to economically distressed and underserved communities.

Operating in these communities creates jobs, improves infrastructure, and promotes economic growth. They also help increase access to capital for small businesses, including affordable housing projects and community service facilities.

Community Development Credit Unions

Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) are nonprofit financial cooperatives owned and controlled by their members. As is the case with traditional credit unions, they provide financial services such as savings accounts, checking accounts, and loans.

CDCUs only cater to low-income and underserved communities, offering affordable rates and financial education programs to promote inclusion and help people build credit and assets. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an independent federal agency, regulates these credit unions.

Community Development Loan Funds

Community Development Loan Funds, or CDLFs, are nonprofit entities that finance community development projects by offering loans and technical assistance to marginalized communities. They facilitate access to affordable housing, promote small businesses, and help establish community service facilities to sustain growth. They also serve as an alternative source of capital for those who cannot access traditional bank financing services by offering flexible terms and underwriting criteria.

Community Development Venture Capital Funds

Community Development Venture Capital Funds offer equity and debt-with-equity investments to small and medium-sized businesses in economically distressed areas. They can be for-profit corporations or nonprofit entities.

By offering long-term capital, they help businesses grow, create jobs, and foster innovation. They also provide technical assistance, mentoring, and business development support to maintain the long-term success of their portfolio companies.

Microenterprise Development Loan Funds

Microenterprise Development Loan Funds are loan funds that provide small-scale loans, or microloans, to entrepreneurs and small businesses that might not qualify for traditional financing. They offer small capital amounts that range from hundreds to a few thousand. These loan funds help low-income people, women, and minority entrepreneurs who need smaller loan amounts and more flexible terms.

Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Consortia

CDFI Consortia are collaborative networks of CDFIs that pool resources, experience, and capital to increase their impact on community development services. They can access larger funding opportunities and share best practices to serve their target communities by working together. They can also provide joint technical assistance and support services, helping to strengthen individual CDFIs that are part of the network.

Understanding Community Development Financial Institutions

The main goal of CDFI fund programs is to provide affordable loans, community development banking services, financial help, and technical assistance to low-income communities. They foster economic development and empower small business owners, minorities, and marginalized communities by offering access to investment capital and other resources with fewer demands than traditional finance institutions.

CDFIs differ from traditional financial institutions because they focus on community development and serving minority communities. They also collaborate with religious institutions, community service organizations, and rely on federal funding and agencies to address the needs of their target populations.

What’s the federal government’s role in CDFIs?

The Federal Reserve Bank supports CDFIs through various initiatives, tax credits, and programs. One such program is the CDFI Fund, which the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers. The CDFI Fund provides financial, technical, and other resources to CDFIs, casting a wider net to help low income people and communities access their services.

In addition to the CDFI Fund, the Federal Reserve Bank supports CDFIs through programs and training initiatives such as:

  • Bank Enterprise Award Program
  • Capital Magnet Fund
  • CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
  • CDFI Equitable Recovery Program
  • CDFI Program
  • Rapid Response Program
  • Native Initiatives
  • New Markets Tax Credit Program
  • Small Dollar Loan Program

These initiatives by the Federal Reserve Bank provide financial incentives and resources for CDFIs and community development entities to invest in eligible community projects, promote economic growth, and create jobs.

How has that federal role changed over time?

The federal government’s role in supporting the CDFI industry changes over time to respond to the changing needs of disadvantaged communities and the growing recognition of the importance of financial inclusion.

Early efforts, for example, provided seed capital and technical assistance to establish and grow CDFIs. With the maturation and evolution of the industry, the government started focusing on building capacity, collaboration, and supporting innovative endeavors.

Recent changes emphasize leveraging private sector investments, regulatory relief, and encouraging partnerships between the CDFI industry and other financial institutions. Examples include minority depository institutions (MDIs) and mainstream banks.

CDFIs’ Role in Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion is an essential part of CDFI initiatives. Access to affordable financial products and services helps bridge the gap between poor communities and mainstream financial institutions. CDFIs also promote financial knowledge, support small businesses, finance affordable housing activities, and facilitate economic development initiatives.

CDFIs also ensure that economically distressed communities can access essential community services facilities like healthcare centers, schools, and childcare. Their work helps contribute to these communities’ overall well-being and stability. It creates a solid foundation for long-term economic growth.

Business Model

CDFI business models are unique in combining traditional financial services with a strong emphasis on developing and positively impacting the communities they cater to.

They generate revenue by collecting interest and fees on loans, investments, and other financial products. However, they also rely on grants, donations, and especially government funding like the CDFI fund to support their operations.

CDFIs collaborate with organizations like government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners to attain their goals. Additionally, they leverage tax credits, guarantees, and other financial tools to attract more investment capital and support their lending activities.

CDFIs Provide Opportunity for All

CDFIs provide real opportunities by addressing the financial needs of underserved communities to help them succeed and promote their economic growth. To do this, they offer access to affordable financial products and services to communities that experienced systematic lockouts from these programs.

By emphasizing their needs and giving them more accessible and affordable ways to prosper, low-income individuals and businesses have access to essential financial tools. These tools were traditionally out of reach for mainstream financial institutions.

Moreover, CDFIs support small businesses owned by women, minorities, and individuals in economically distressed communities. By offering tailored financing solutions, technical assistance, and business planning resources, CDFIs help these entrepreneurs overcome barriers to entry, create jobs, and contribute to local economies.

Another significant aspect of CDFIs’ work is their focus on affordable housing and community development projects. They finance the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing units and invest in community facilities like schools, healthcare facilities, and childcare. These are essential to the well-being and stability of low-income communities and help them worry less about factors beyond their control or that are too expensive to access otherwise.

CDFIs also promote financial education and empowerment by providing resources and training to help people develop financial literacy skills, manage their finances, and build assets. These initiatives contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting economic self-sufficiency.

By partnering with various stakeholders, such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners, CDFIs leverage resources and expertise to maximize their impact. This creates a ripple effect that extends beyond the immediate recipients, fostering inclusive and resilient communities.

Types of CDFIs

Many community development financial institutions focus on addressing the needs of economically disadvantaged communities. These include community development banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds.

Federal agencies like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regulate community development banks and credit unions. They offer various banking services, from deposit accounts to loans, catering to low-income communities.

Loan funds make affordable housing possible, support small businesses, and help community facilities. On the other hand, venture capital funds offer equity investments that support small businesses and startups in underserved communities.

“Newer” CDFI Resources

As community development financial institutions evolve, multiple resources and programs are emerging to support their growth and impact. Examples include:

CDFIs as Capital Plus Institutions

Sometimes, community development financial institutions are called “Capital Plus” institutions. This is because they provide investment capital, development services, technical assistance, and financial education to support the long-term success of their clients.

This approach allows community development financial institutions to significantly impact low-income and economically distressed communities, promoting economic opportunity and inclusion.

Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP)

The Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) is a federal initiative that provides capital to CDFIs and MDIs to support their lending activities after the economic challenges caused by COVID-19. This program helps ensure that these institutions have the resources to continue providing essential financial services to underserved communities, small businesses, and minority-owned businesses during times of crisis.

Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPPLF)

The Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPPLF) is another federal initiative that supports the lending activities of CDFIs and other financial institutions participating in the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). By providing liquidity to these institutions, the PPPLF enables them to continue offering loans to small businesses needing financial assistance during challenging economic times.

CDFI Rapid Response Program

The Rapid Response Program from the CDFI Fund provides immediate financial assistance during crises or natural disasters. CDFIs can quickly access funds for disaster recovery, emergency relief efforts, and other needs, serving as “financial first responders” for the communities they support.

These newer resources and programs demonstrate how the federal government, private sector, and other stakeholders support the work of CDFIs and promote financial inclusion and economic opportunity. By leveraging these resources, CDFIs can better address the needs of low-income communities nationwide and foster economic development in urban and rural communities.

Source: crediful.com

Apache is functioning normally

Recent home price declines are leading to decreased tappable equity, but there are still opportunities in home equity lending, according to a report published by Home Equity Lending News. 

While 30-year fixed rates on first mortgages are far from the 4% range – which many existing first mortgages were refinanced to during the pandemic – the number of transactions where a second mortgage makes more sense than a first mortgage diminishes each time first-mortgage rates decline another 100 bps, according to the second mortgage market insights Q2 2023 report.

“Tappable home equity is expected to decrease to a forecasted $18.1 trillion as of the fourth quarter of 2023 from an expected $19.4 trillion at the end of this year. With home prices continuing to erode, tappable equity will also deflate. However, given that home-equity originations were less than $0.5 trillion last year, the decrease in tappable equity still leaves plenty of room for additional opportunity,” the report states. 

The report also notes a pickup in home equity activity, citing the Federal Reserve’s April Beige Book. 

“Consumer loan demand was mixed, with home-equity and used auto loans showing some increased demand over the last few months,” the Federal Reserve Board of Governors noted.

When Q4 2022 data is broken down by home equity transaction type, home equity line of credits (HELOCs) accounted for 53% percent of originations, while closed-end home equity loans (HELs), also known as HELOANs, made up 47%.  

When it comes to dollar volume, there were an estimated $251 billion in HELOC originations during all of 2022, soaring from $182 billion the year prior. This suggest about $200 billion in HEL production last year.

Delinquency on home equity products has also remained low. 

There was no change in the HELOC 90-day delinquency rate from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2022, standing at around 0.24%. It was the same story for HEL 90-day delinquency rate, which ended 2022 at 0.83%, unchanged from the third quarter of last year.

But concern is growing over the lower-credit lower-income product, the report notes. Another area to watch is the performance of loans approved through automated processes.

“Utilizing automated valuation models instead of full-blown appraisals or title searches in lieu of title policies makes loan production less expensive and more rapid,” according to the report.

The faster and cheaper replacements haven’t yet been tested in a down market, and these lesser versions might not be managing the risk well, John Toohig, president of whole-loan trading group at Raymond James, said.

“If you make it easy, that usually means you’re skipping a few things in credit,” Toohig said.

And as instant online automated approval and closing continues to elude home equity lending, attention has turned to artificial intelligence.

While several technology providers recently announced advancements with their platforms, the automation used by fintechs has been described as less than full documentation.

Non-bank lenders and government agencies are also competing with banks for their standings on search engine results, the report notes.

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card overview

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, which offers complimentary breakfast, increased earnings and space-available upgrades when you stay at Hilton properties. The status perk alone may make it easy to justify the card’s $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Hilton Honors Gold status is one of the best mid-tier hotel loyalty statuses you can obtain. As a Hilton Gold elite member, you’ll get complimentary breakfast, space-available room upgrades and improved earnings when staying at Hilton brands. Luckily, you can easily earn and maintain Hilton Gold status since it is an automatic perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.

The Hilton Surpass card is an ideal choice for those who stay at Hilton properties often and want a cobranded credit card with a modest annual fee and valuable perks — but who aren’t willing to shell out for the top-tier Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With its elevated welcome bonus, you might wonder whether the Surpass card is a good addition to your wallet. Here are the details and other cards to consider as you decide.

Hilton Surpass welcome offer

New applicants can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.

THE POINTS GUY

Having another Hilton credit card doesn’t make you ineligible for the welcome bonus, but remember that Amex has a “once per lifetime” rule on card bonuses. Amex also has these terms for the welcome offer:

Welcome Offer not available to applicants who have or have had the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors Amex Ascend Card. American Express may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

Luckily, Amex will inform you before submitting your application if you’re not eligible for the bonus. If you get this message, you can proceed without the welcome offer or withdraw your application before Amex performs a hard pull on your credit report.

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Related: A complete guide to Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions

Earning points with the Hilton Surpass

BILL FINK/THE POINTS GUY

The Hilton Surpass card is a great way to earn Hilton points. You’ll earn 12 points per dollar at Hilton hotels and resorts — a 7.2% return on spending, based on TPG’s valuations. This is better than you’d get with most of the best credit cards for booking hotels, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve (6%).

You’ll also earn 6 Hilton points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, giving you a return of 3.6% on these purchases. Finally, you’ll get 3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — a return of 1.8%.

These returns on non-Hilton spending aren’t spectacular. But, if you’re looking to boost your Hilton points balance, the Surpass card provides a decent return even for purchases outside the Hilton Honors program.

Related: Booking direct: How much value does Hilton status provide?

Redeeming points with the Hilton Surpass

When it comes to the Hilton Honors program, your best bet is to redeem your Hilton points for free nights. Unfortunately, Hilton doesn’t publish an award chart, instead using dynamic pricing where the number of points needed for a redemption fluctuates based factors such as the cash cost of the hotel, holidays and peak travel periods.

KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

One of my favorite options is to focus on properties that cost relatively few points but provide great value. For example, here are 20 of the best Hilton hotels in the U.S. bookable for 20,000 points or less per night. And here are some of the top Hilton properties overseas bookable for 10,000 points or less per night.

Hilton’s Points & Money option allows you to pay more cash (and fewer points) when making a reservation. This can be useful when you don’t have enough points for a full booking but don’t want to pay the full cost of the hotel room.

Hilton Honors also allows members to earn and redeem Hilton points with partners. However, most non-hotel redemption options provide relatively low value for your points, so avoiding these low-value options is best.

Finally, remember that Hilton allows you to pool your points with up to 10 other members. If you want to combine balances with a friend or family member to put an even more luxurious award stay within reach, you can.

Related: 5 ways Hilton Honors should improve its loyalty program

Hilton Surpass benefits

The Hilton Surpass card’s welcome offer is attractive. But the long-term value for semi-regular Hilton guests comes card’s ongoing perks and benefits.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Hilton Honors Gold status

The Hilton Surpass card gives cardholders complimentary Gold status in the Hilton Honors program. TPG values Hilton Gold status at $1,255 per year. Hilton Gold status includes the following perks:

If you’re a big spender and charge more than $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn top-tier Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Depending on how frequently you stay at Hilton properties — and how much you value the given perks of Diamond status — this can add quite a bit of value to the card. However, there’s a simpler path to Diamond status: it’s an automatic perk of the Hilton Aspire card, which has a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees).

It’s worth pointing out that other credit cards offer complimentary Hilton Gold status, though none has an annual fee lower than the Surpass card:

So if you already carry any of these cards, getting Hilton Gold status as a perk from the Hilton Surpass won’t provide any additional value.

Related: Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?

Priority Pass access

BRENDAN DORSEY/THE POINTS GUY

The Hilton Surpass comes with a Priority Pass Select membership offering 10 lounge visits per year after you enroll for this benefit. Bringing a guest into the lounge uses one of your 10 visits, but you can pay for additional Priority Pass lounge visits.

If you’re a semi-frequent traveler who goes through an airport with a Priority Pass lounge a handful of times a year, this is a great perk that won’t break the bank like similar benefits on premium travel rewards credit cards.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Free night reward

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

You can earn a free night reward by spending $15,000 on purchases with the Hilton Surpass card in a calendar year. You can use this free night at almost any Hilton property worldwide on any night of the week. Even at a conservative valuation of $300, you’re still looking at an additional 2% return on that $15,000 in spending.

Related: How to get maximum value from Hilton free night certificates

Other benefits

The Hilton Surpass offers various other benefits. For example, you will pay no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) when traveling outside the U.S.

You’ll also enjoy free two-day shipping with Shop Runner, Send & Split to divide bills with friends — such as a group dinner — Pay It Plan It to pay large purchases over time and secondary rental car insurance of up to $50,000 for theft or damage.*

* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Related: 6 reasons to get the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card

Which cards compete with the Hilton Surpass?

For those looking to earn and redeem points with Hilton, natural competitors of the Surpass card will be other Hilton credit cards. It’s also worth considering cards whose points you can use at Hilton in addition to other redemption options.

  • If you don’t want an annual fee: The Amex Hilton Honors card also earns points you can redeem with Hilton for free hotel stays. As a card with no annual fee (see rates and fees), you’ll naturally earn at lower rates and enjoy fewer perks. With the Amex Hilton Honors card, you’ll earn 7 points per dollar at Hilton hotels and resorts, 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), 5 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on other purchases. For more details, see our full review of the Amex Hilton Honors card.
  • If you want more perks: The Amex Hilton Aspire card is Hilton’s premium card, offering top-tier Diamond status as an automatic benefit. The card’s annual fee is $450 (see rates and fees), but TPG values Diamond status at more than $3,000 annually. You’ll receive a free night reward on each account anniversary, and you can earn another by spending $60,000 on purchases with your card during a calendar year. Additionally, you can receive statement credits each year for up to $250 in airline fees per year, up to $250 in Hilton resort credits and up to $100 in Hilton on-property credits. You’ll also receive a Priority Pass membership with unlimited lounge access for you and up to two guests. For more details, see our full review of the Amex Hilton Aspire card.
  • If you aren’t partial to Hilton: Try the Amex EveryDay Preferred card, with which you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on up to $6,000 of annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You’ll also earn a 50% points bonus each billing period if you have 30 or more transactions during that period. The Amex EveryDay Preferred card doesn’t earn Hilton points. Instead, it earns American Express’ own Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to Hilton for hotel redemptions but also can use with more than a dozen other airline and hotel partners. For more details, see our full review of the Amex EveryDay Preferred card.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards.

Read more: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?

The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred and Hilton Aspire cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Is the Hilton Surpass worth it?

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is competitive in the crowded mid-tier category of cobranded hotel credit cards. With a lucrative welcome offer, solid earning rates, complimentary Gold elite status and an array of valuable perks, the Hilton Surpass is an excellent option for those who visit Hilton properties semi-frequently.

Bottom line

While the Surpass doesn’t offer the flexibility of a card like the Amex EveryDay Preferred card or the elite perks of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, it could still be just what you need to make your next stay with the Hilton Honors program even more rewarding. You’ll get the benefits of having Gold status as well as lounge passes to use. Just note that you do need to spend $15,000 in a calendar year to receive a free night award.

Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Business Card, click here
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex EveryDay Preferred card, click here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon, Chris Dong, Robert Thorpe and Ryan Smith.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi are four of the major players in the travel credit card space. As such, these issuers offer their own travel portals, where users can earn and redeem their points and miles for flights, hotels, car rentals and more.

These issuers also incentivize their cardholders to use the bank’s own portal, done by offering bonus points on bookings.

For instance, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 10 miles per dollar on hotel and car rentals and 5 miles per dollar on flights — but only when booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Purchases made outside the portal earn 2 miles per dollar.

Likewise, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on all travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Otherwise, you earn 2 points per dollar on those travel purchases.

Given the lucrative earning potential that booking through these portals presents, it begs the question: Is it worth your time to use them rather than booking directly?

In this guide, we put these four travel portals to the test when booking flights. We compared price, ease of use, redemption value and other metrics.

Methodology

For this analysis, we limited our research to flights and didn’t include hotels, rental cars or other travel. That’s because we generally recommend that you avoid booking hotels through a third party since you likely won’t receive elite-status benefits (if you have any) or earn elite-qualifying stay credits.

If you’re not concerned with earning hotel elite status or are booking an independent hotel, then booking your stay through a travel portal could be advantageous for you.

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It’s also worth noting that you can get elite-like perks at hotels, even without elite status, by booking with these programs: Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts, Amex’s The Hotel Collection, Capital One’s Premier Collection, Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, Citi’s Hotel Collection and Citi’s Luxury Hotel Collection.

With flights, you may be able to “double-dip” your earnings: You can usually earn bonus points on bookings through your card issuer’s portal and earn airline and elite-qualifying miles just as you would by booking directly through the airline. That said, here are the features we examined in each portal:

  • Results: Do you get comprehensive results when searching through the portal?
  • Price: How do the prices compare to booking directly with an airline versus through a portal?
  • Ease of use: Is navigating the portal easy for a user? What unique features or benefits do users get from using this portal?
  • Redemption value: Is it worth redeeming your points and miles for travel through a portal?

With these four factors in mind, here’s how the individual issuers’ travel portals stack up.

American Express Travel portal

AMERICANEXPRESS.COM

Any American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points grants access to the Amex Travel portal. Depending on your specific card, you may earn bonus points for booking through the portal.

The Platinum Card® from American Express, for instance, earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases annually, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. The American Express® Gold Card, meanwhile, earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.

You can search for flights, hotels, flight and hotel packages, rental cars and cruises on the Amex portal.

Related: Everything you need to know about Amex Travel

Capital One travel portal

CAPITALONE.COM

The Capital One travel portal offers a fresh interface powered by the travel tech app Hopper and is accessible with most credit cards earning Capital One miles or cash back.

Bonus earnings are available, depending on which card you have. Using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book flights in the portal provides 5 miles per dollar; flights booked elsewhere earn 2 miles per dollar.

Currently, you can only book flights, hotels and rental cars through the portal. The portal also houses the Premier Collection for luxury hotels. However, this is only accessible if you have the Venture X or its counterpart, the Capital One Venture X Business card.

The information for the Venture X Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: How to use the Capital One travel portal — now with more cards and new rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal

CHASE.COM

Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal was powered by Expedia for many years, but the issuer migrated to cxLoyalty in 2021.

You can access the portal with your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card, including popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Cardholders can book flights, hotels, cars, activities and cruises on the Chase travel portal.

Related: Why are some flights more expensive through the Chase travel portal?

Citi travel portal

CITI.COM

The overhauled Citi travel portal launched in March 2023 after months of delays. It’s powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda, part of the Booking.com family.

You can access the portal with any credit card earning ThankYou points, and several cards earn bonus points on bookings in the portal. Unfortunately, flights aren’t included in these bonus offerings.

With Citi’s new portal, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars and attractions of numerous types. The portal also offers two hotel programs: Hotel Collection and Luxury Collection.

Related: Ultimate guide to the Citi travel portal

Booking flights

I looked at a variety of round-trip routes with the same dates (roughly six months from now) and gathered the following prices:

Itinerary Booked directly Amex Travel Capital One Travel Chase travel Citi Travel
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in economy with Delta Air Lines. $533. $541. $540. $523. $540.
Tampa (TPA) to Bozeman (BZN) in economy with American Airlines. $786. $786. $786. $786. $786.
Baltimore (BWI) to Las Vegas (LAS) in economy with Delta Air Lines. $720. $720. $720. $720. $720.
Miami (MIA) to Boston (BOS) in economy with JetBlue. $418. $418. $338. $418. $412.
Chicago (ORD) to Milan (MXP) in economy with United Airlines. $902. $902. $902. $772. $732.
Nashville (BNA) to Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) in economy with American Airlines. $535. $535. $535. $535. $415.
Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul (ICN) in economy with Air Canada. $1,079. $1,952. $1,880. $ 2,581. $1,952.
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in Delta One. $2,798. $2,600. $2,798. $2,798. Not available.
Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) in business with British Airways. $3,272. $3,272. $3,300. $3,300. $3,300.
San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) in business with Singapore Airlines. $8,351. $7,285. $8,521. $9,386. $8,521.

Price

All of the travel portals generally fared well when it came to searching economy flights versus booking directly. However, there were a few major caveats worth noting.

Southwest Airlines is not bookable on any of the portals, and tickets for low-cost airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier are typically more expensive on the Chase and Capital One travel portals than booking directly. Amex Travel didn’t display any Spirit Airways or Frontier Airlines flights.

When it came to international flights, all of the bank portals struggled at times to match prices or give comparable results versus booking directly. For a deeper dive on some of these routes and flight prices, we did a broader comparison across 20 flights in this guide.

As a general word of advice, domestic flights should yield the same results and price, but it gets tricky when searching for international fares. Your best bet would be to compare the prices and only use a portal when the prices are identical.

Ease of use

The Amex portal is my favorite for a comprehensible search experience, fast load times for results and the simplicity of parsing through the various options.

AMERICANEXPRESS.COM

On the other hand, the Capital One portal offers one of the most visually appealing interfaces, with color-coded dates to indicate the lowest prices in a calendar view — plus price drop protection. However, the Capital One portal did not provide as many options as its competitors on some searches. It also yielded higher prices for international routes, but I’m hopeful that the issuer will continue to make improvements in the future.

CAPITALONE.COM

Based on millions of data points from Hopper, Capital One is supposed to let you know if this is the best time to book via its price watch prediction feature.

CAPITALONE.COM

To standardize the offerings across various airlines, Capital One also provides detailed insights into what flyers can expect from their chosen fare class. With the rise of “basic economy” fares, it’s not always clear what amenities are included in your ticket and what you’ll have to pay for as extras.

Capital One does an excellent job of explaining in-depth features such as seat pitch, aircraft type, and food and beverage options on board.

CAPITALONE.COM

Speaking of basic economy, it’s worth noting Amex Travel rarely (if ever) displays these fares. If you’re looking for basic economy, you should use another portal.

Citi’s new portal does a good job of offering a broad range of results in economy and offering upgrades on the payment page. And being able to book flights plus other travel elements in one transaction is great. However, searching directly for business-class fares is tricky on this portal.

Finally, the Chase portal has seen vast improvements since fully migrating toward its cxLoyalty interface. Previously, when Chase was powered by Expedia, users complained about slow load times and much higher prices than those offered directly by the airlines. Some of those issues seem to have been resolved.

CHASE.COM

While the Ultimate Rewards portal could use some work in cleaning up the interface, the overall user experience is much better than before. That said, it’s also the portal with the highest frequency of price divergence from booking directly — sometimes higher and sometimes lower.

Redemption value

This is not a criterion we used for evaluating these bank travel portals for this particular article. The value of your points or miles can depend on which particular rewards card you carry. Still, it is worth remembering if you intend to use your credit card’s travel portal to earn or redeem points and miles.

Your credit card points or miles are typically worth 1 cent each for flights in your respective travel portal. That’s the case with Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points and Capital One credit cards. Even with the Capital One’s premium card (the Venture X), your points are only worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through the Capital One portal. The same applies to credit cards earning Citi ThankYou points.

On the other hand, Chase’s credit cardholders are incentivized to use the Ultimate Rewards portal via a higher redemption value. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel bookings, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card fetch 1.25 cents per point in value.

CHASE.COM

While not as consistent of a program, American Express offers “Insider Fares,” allowing cardholders to redeem their points for a better value than 1 cent apiece on select domestic and international itineraries. However, these can be quite specific.

AMERICANEXPRESS.COM

Select Amex business credit cardholders can also leverage the Pay with Points benefit to get a 25% to 50% points rebate when booking select airfare through Amex Travel — yet another incentive to book through the portal.

Due to all these card-specific circumstances, we didn’t make redemption values a main criterion for judging these portals for booking flights. Rather, we focused on each portal’s user interface and the availability of competitive fares — as those two factors will probably be the determinants as to whether travelers end up using them.

Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum’s Pay With Points perk

Bottom line

Credit card issuers have improved their travel portals over the years, but they’re still far from perfect. While there isn’t a clear winner for the best travel portal, each has unique features and incentives for its cardholders.

If you decide to book a flight through your issuer’s travel portal, be sure to compare that price against booking directly with the airline to get the best deal possible. And don’t forget that you may want to book directly anyway to avoid any headaches down the road. If you need to change or cancel your airfare, booking with a third party can complicate matters when plans change.

Additional reporting by Ryan Smith.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

All right, let’s get this out of the way, right up front.

Dining alone in a restaurant is neither a shameful thing nor an experience to avoid.

Maybe you’ve had an experience like Jason Segel in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Sometimes a server does make a fuss, but, really, most are happy you’re there — if you are happy to be there, yourself.

There’s an art to the solo dine. In the right frame of mind and with reasonable expectations, a solo diner can have a delicious experience.

It helps if you like to eat, of course.

These tidbits should help the reluctant learn from my own mistakes. Know thyself, dear diner, and feel free to enjoy a great meal, regardless of situational solitude!

[find-an-apartment]

Solo Dining 101
Ok, so the moment finds you hungry, sans social engagement. What to do?

Let’s start with a basic tenet: you’ve got to dispel any insecurity you might have about your right to eat alone.

American culture is a little crazy about food. As a result of what we’ve been taught, some of us feel self-conscious about enjoying eating, especially in public. But the fact is, we’ve all done it.

Confidence is key, here. If you find yourself wondering whether others in a restaurant are looking at you or judging your presence, remember they’re really more interested in the cannelloni.

Location, location, loca…
Where you choose to sit in a restaurant has perhaps the greatest impact on whether you’ll enjoy your solo dining experience.

It’s up to you to share your seating preference: want to be situated in eaves-dropping distance of an interesting-looking group of folks? Prefer to pass the time in a more secluded area? Unless the joint is really jumping, any friendly establishment should be happy to accommodate your pleasant request.

Don’t feel that you have to dress to match the furniture. Whatever you’re wearing is just fine.

Read the restaurant
Ah, this is important. I like to know a little bit about a place before I go there, just so there are no unpleasant surprises.

When you know the details – like how much the food costs, or that there will likely be patrons dressed to the nines – you can adjust your expectations. I’m not saying you should feel compelled to conform, but know the general guidelines. The point of the solo dine is for you to enjoy yourself.

Your meal on mobile (or, the smartphone connection)
Here’s a call: to eat while connected, or no?

A meal alone certainly gives you a chance to catch up on emails, fave websites, and memes you’ve yet to have the time to embrace. Or you might want to cherish a few moments to yourself, entirely disconnected from the grind.

When I’m feeling digitally social in these situations, I like to philosophize by text with a friend who likely won’t respond right away. (Do you have those, too?) I might describe the scene, the people, the food. It’s sort of like talking to myself in the presence of another, online. I’ll hear what my friend has to say later, but, for now, I just want to put my impressions out there — and I want to enjoy the food.

What if you want to be social?
Just because you arrive alone to a hip eatery doesn’t necessarily mean you wish to stay that way. Again, it’s up to you to signal your intentions.

Your body language tells the tale about whether you want to engage with other diners. A seat taken at the bar is a reasonable give-away, too.

The Staff and the Solo Diner
Servers are generally friendly to those dining alone; ones who are frustrated about the desire for a larger table (and tip) really only spite themselves, if they take these feelings out on the solo diner. I choose to be super-nice to servers, but I tip based on the bill and the quality of service received — generally no more merely because I happen to be eating alone.

Here’s a man who knows what he likes. Sweet…or is it savory?

Enjoying a food scene with friends is one of the great pleasures in life, but there’s no rule that says it’s the only way to experience a restaurant. Go ahead, muster up your courage: “table for one, please.”

Photo credits: Shutterstock / Rovenko Photo, Tyler Olson, Tanya Uralova, Nejron Photo