Your shortcut to first class travel

Welcome to UPGRD, your resource for elite status, earning and redeeming airline miles and hotel points.

The Road More Traveled

Booking Flights on Norwegian Air? Choose Your Site to Save Big

Norwegian Air (technically Norwegian Air Shuttle) is a European low-cost carrier that has expanded into the United States over the last few years, using low fares as its primary selling ...

Pursued Adventures

Hotel Review: Cabana Bay Resort, Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

The Cabana Bay Resort at Universal Studios Orlando, Florida is located approximately 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO) and 5 minutes from the entrance to Universal S ...

Pursued Adventures

Traveling to Vietnam and Need a Tourist Visa? Read This First

When I sat down to write this post, my original intention was to show you everything you needed to know about how to obtain a Vietnam tourist/travel visa but the more research I did, the mo ...

Pursued Adventures

How to Visit China Without a Visa (updated 9/8/16)

So you want to visit China without a visa? Well, you're in luck. Starting January 1, 2016, you can travel to and visit the following cities in China without a visa for up to 72 hours (3 days) or 144 h ...

The Road More Traveled

Hotel Review: The Westin San Francisco Airport

I've had an unofficial boycott of Starwood hotels for the better part of 10 years.  I felt I was unfairly denied a wheelbarrow full of Starpoints after a lengthy stay at a Starwood property in India ...

Live and Let's Fly

Plenty of Award Space on New Austrian Airlines LAX Route

Austrian Airlines will begin service between Vienna and Los Angeles starting next April, adding another Star Alliance destination in the heart of Europe for LA travelers. The new schedule effec ...

Pursued Adventures

How to Get a 10 Year Chinese Tourist Visa

If you have ever wanted to visit China, now would be a pretty good time to make that happen. Many airlines have increased capacity and added new routes to/from several Chinese cities and airfares have never ...

Regional First

Is American Still the Right Airline for Me?

Are there any good domestic US carriers anymore?  Sure, everyone has their favorites, and some are better than others for a given situation, but when asked recently, my response has been something like, ...

Pursued Adventures

Lounge Review: United Club at Hong Kong HKG

The United Club at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is located in the northwest concourse of terminal 1, near gate 60. From the Duty Free shopping area of the main departure level (6th floor), take the ...
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