Recap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly.

Summer Travel Forecast: More Flyers, More Flights

The forecast is for a 4 percent increase in air travel during the summer months, making for crowded, uncomfortable flights. Here’s how to survive the crush.

The Laptop Ban: Expand It or Banish It?

The laptop ban may be at a tipping point, with opposing forces calling to both expand and curtail it. Expand the ban, or ban it: What say you?

World’s Largest Airline Will Add Seats, Reduce Legroom

American, the world’s largest airline, plans to add more coach seats to some planes, reducing legroom to as little as 29 inches. Ouch!

Delta SkyMiles Members Can Now Earn Miles for Lyft Rides

Effective today, members of Delta’s SkyMiles program can earn one mile for every $1 spent on Lyft rides.

Survey: Southwest Is Best for Frequent-Flyer Awards

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A new study purports to show which airline programs have the most frequent-flyer award availability, and the highest payback rates. Your mileage may vary.

American’s New Upgrade Policy: What You Need to Know

On May 20, American will begin using a new system for prioritizing upgrade requests. If you’re not a big spender, you won’t like it.

This Summer, Earn Up to 4,000 Points Per Marriott Stay

This summer, Marriott Rewards members can earn up to 4,000 bonus points for their second and subsequent stays at Marriott hotels.

Starwood’s Summer Bonus Is Double, Triple Points

Starwood’s summer promotion is double points on weekdays, triple points for weekends, plus a bonus for resort stays charged to the Starwood credit card.

Win a Seabourn Alaska Cruise

Enter this sweepstakes for a chance to win any Seabourn Alaska cruise of 12 days or less, during 2017.

Somebody has to win this trip, right? Might as well be you.

More from SmarterTravel:

• New Alaska Air Benefit: Elite Extension for New Parents
• Congress Warns Airlines: Do Better, or Else
• Will the Government Make Air Travel Great Again?

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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