After organizing your pantry, tidying up your closet and giving your house a deep spring-cleaning, it would appear all your “housekeeping tasks” are in order, but when was the last time you cleaned up your travel accounts, subscriptions and important documents?
Below are a few items to check off your to-do list to make sure you’re ready to hit the road when it comes time to travel again!
Forgot your password?
Haven’t logged into an account for a while? Use this time to take stock of your different accounts, from email and service providers to your rewards accounts, to ensure you can log in and access your account details. Take a moment to reset passwords for accounts you have been locked out of, enroll in two-factor or multi-factor authentication and come up with a system to help you remember your different logins. You might even take it to the next level and consider setting up a password manager.
Check on your points
Whether it’s how you get there or the place you stay, understand where your point balances stand in your hotel and airline rewards accounts. You might have some unused points or offers lying around that could be put to good use when it comes time to take your next trip.
Pro Tip: Visit HiltonHonors.com or your Hilton Honors app to check your Point balance and use PointsExplorer.HiltonHonors.com, which allows you to look at all hotel possibilities within your Points budget and dream about your next trip – near the surf, on the snow or in the city. And, when booking with Hilton Honors Points, the fifth night of a single stay is always free. Finally, ensure you are enrolled in the Hilton Honors Points Unlimited promotion to maximize Point earning.
Organize your wallet
Now is the perfect time to check your wallet and determine which credit cards are providing the most value and on what purchases, whether that’s points towards travel, elite status or access to airport lounges. After assessing which cards match your lifestyle, take note of expiration dates, remove any old or expired cards and organize any spare change (e.g., start a savings jar to put towards activities on your next trip).
Pro Tip: With the Hilton Honors American Express Card portfolio, travelers can find a card perfect for their needs, from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card, which offers complimentary Gold status, to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card, which offers complimentary Diamond status. Cardholders can earn Bonus Hilton Honors Points now – on everything from groceries to phone bills – turning everyday spending into rewarding travel when the time is right.
What’s your preference?
Within many hotel, airline and car rental apps, travelers can choose their preference for hotel room location, seat on a plane or type of car to ensure comfort and a custom, personalized travel experience. Take the opportunity to make sure your profiles are entered and up to date for your next trip.
Also, when business travel becomes a norm again, be prepared by entering your preferences, loyalty accounts and personal information in your company’s travel-booking platform. This will help save time when booking in the future and ensure that you earn the most points. Get logged in and do this now to make your next flight selection a breeze.
Pro Tip: Update your Hilton MyWay Benefits, which allow members to choose their guest room preference, earning style and, for Gold and Diamond members, select on-property benefits based on preference, like free breakfast, bonus points or upgrades (depending on the brand). Hilton Honors members can select their preferences for all 18 Hilton hotel brands by logging in to their account on HiltonHonors.com or on the Hilton Honors app.
Prepare for takeoff
As of Oct. 1, 2021, all Americans will be required to secure a REAL ID to board a federally regulated commercial aircraft. Special documents are needed to obtain a REAL ID and they vary state to state, so visit the official site to learn more. Secure all documents needed to get a REAL ID and prepare to schedule an appointment when it is safe to do so. Also, take the time to ensure your passport is up to date and allow enough time to renew before booking an international trip. Check the U.S. Department of State website for more information on how to renew and the steps to take to get new documentation.
A TSA Precheck membership saves you time and stress when traveling by air. But you can’t put it to use if it’s not applied to your preferred airline and business travel platform. Log in and update your profiles accordingly. Don’t have TSA Precheck? Take this time to review information and decide if filling out an application is the right choice for you and your travel needs.
Whether it’s a trip to the local beach or an international journey, knowing your accounts, credit cards and documents are in order will make the process of booking a dream trip that much easier when you are ready travel again.