🎙️ Your 5-minute voice memo 👇
If you’re still paying for in-flight Wi-Fi, there’s a decent chance you don’t have to. JetBlue offers it free to everyone. Delta, Southwest, and American offer it to loyalty members, and United and Alaska do on Starlink-equipped planes. Your frequent flyer number is the new Wi-Fi password, so set up the account and add it to your reservation before you’re trying to log in on your flight.
Free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming standard, so airlines are competing on speed. United is installing Starlink and isn’t being subtle about it, courting Delta and American elites with a special status match. If you keep ending up on United anyway, it’s a pretty easy trial run.
The connectivity conversation doesn’t stop when you land. If you’re heading abroad, a VPN can help with streaming and hotel Wi-Fi. And if logging into seven different apps on a hotel TV sounds annoying, we share why you might want to pack a Roku on your next trip.
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💸 Stack your rewards without another credit card
Rove is a free travel rewards program that lets you earn transferable Rove Miles on hotels, flights, dining, and shopping using the credit cards you already have.
The real standout is hotels. Book a Loyalty Eligible rate through Rove and you can earn Rove Miles alongside your hotel points and elite night credits. Departure Digest listeners get a 1,000-mile welcome bonus instantly upon joining.
✈️ Essential intel
Beginner’s guide
New to the points game? We break down how to earn miles and book flights and hotels for less so you can travel better without a trust fund. It’s the no-BS starter guide you’ll wish you had sooner.
What is a VPN and do you need one?
A VPN can make it look like you’re browsing from home while traveling abroad. Here’s how VPNs work and when you actually need one.
🧳 Build your airport fit
💡 Runway tip
Set up an eSIM before you land instead of wrestling with airport Wi-Fi and roaming fees at the same time.
🧠 Ask Departure Digest
Have a travel or points question? Submit it here and it may be featured in a future episode.
Departure Digest is the voice memo from your savviest travel friend. We track travel news and points math so you never make an expensive mistake.
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