Expert Q&A Sessions, Travel, Part 5: Are there any particular airline or hotel chains that consistently show up with strong deals on Slickdeals that shoppers should be watching?

[Question:B]Are there any particular airline or hotel chains that consistently show up with strong deals on Slickdeals that shoppers should be watching?[/B]
Serra: The deals that consistently perform best are bonus points opportunities and travel packages (stays with perks) on sites like Costco Travel, AAA Travel, TravelZoo, and Luxury Escapes. If your destination isn't posted on Slickdeals, I'd suggest going directly to those sites and searching for it yourself. You might just find your own great deal.

Question: I've seen a few solid Luxury Escapes deals posted on Slickdeals, but I'd never heard of them before. Are they an OTA, or something different? What do they specialize in?
Serra: They could be considered an OTA, but they're more like a TravelZoo: they go out and negotiate directly with hotel properties to secure extra perks and benefits for customers. They have a big following in the luxury travel space. When people see deals that include things like no daily resort fees or a resort credit, that added value is what sets them apart. They're mainly focused on travel packages, and some do include flights or airport transfers. Most of their deals are on the luxury end, which distinguishes them from TravelZoo, which caters more to average-priced travel. Whenever I see a Luxury Escapes deal, I think honeymoon packages. It's that kind of product.

Question: I've been hearing a lot about changes to airline and hotel programs in 2026, mostly for the worse. Are there any particular fees, restrictions, or program rules people should be wary of?
Serra: It's true. Over the years, points redemptions have devalued, and most recently checked bag fees have risen by about $10 across the board. Even beloved Southwest Airlines changed its open-seating policy and eliminated free checked bags earlier this year. That said, airlines are increasingly focused on rewarding their most loyal customers, particularly those who carry branded credit cards. Frontier Airlines' card, for example, has no annual fee for the first year, a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus with award travel starting at just 5,000 miles, no blackout dates, and the ability to redeem miles for bundles covering seat selection, baggage, and change and cancel fees.

Question: If someone is planning to choose one airline as their primary carrier going forward, which would you recommend? Or if it depends on certain factors, what should people consider before deciding?
Serra: This one's easy: go with a major airline that has alliance partners represented at your home airport. From there, get the airline's credit card and hit the sign-up bonus. Pro tip: sign-up bonuses are often higher when you use an in-flight code from the flight attendants. Airline loyalty through branded credit cards has become a major marketing driver, and for good reason. The perks stack up fast.

Question: You mentioned airline alliances as something to keep in mind when choosing a loyalty program. For people who aren't familiar, can you give a quick explanation of why they matter?
Serra: United Airlines, for example, belongs to Star Alliance, which includes partners like Air Canada and Singapore Airlines. American Airlines is part of Oneworld, which includes British Airways and Japan Airlines. When you book through an alliance member, that airline may route you on a partner airline's flight to reach your destination. The real benefit for points travelers is that you can use your miles on partner airlines without transferring your points first. If you have Aeroplan points through Air Canada and want to fly Singapore Airlines, you just go to the Aeroplan website, search your dates, filter for Singapore Airlines-operated flights, and book directly using your points. Sometimes booking through an alliance partner is actually cheaper in points than going directly through a U.S. airline's own program. And when you fly on a partner airline, you can choose whether to earn miles with the partner or with your home carrier.