I Made an Expensive Travel Mistake. Please Don’t Do What I Did
4m | Nov 4, 2026📩 Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe
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I let a $300 flight credit expire, even with reminders set the whole time. I had every intention of using it, but it was on an airline I rarely fly, and none of its routes fit my plans. Most travel credits last about a year, often counted from when you first booked. Delta and JetBlue typically let you book by the deadline and fly later, United and American need your trip to start before it, and with Southwest, the whole trip has to be finished by the expiration date.
That $300 looks small next to a tent that starts at $3,500 a night. Beginning in late December, you can book one of two tented suites at Robert De Niro’s Nobu resort in Barbuda, about a year before its hotel opens. If that’s out of budget, you could stop by the resort’s Nobu restaurant for lunch on a day trip from Antigua.
Also, check your credit card’s app for card-linked offers, which can get you a statement credit or bonus points when you spend with specific brands. November’s batch has plenty of travel deals, so add them to your card before you book.
Timeline
0:00 Start Here
0:20 How to Keep Flight Credits From Expiring
2:19 Robert De Niro’s $3,500-a-Night Barbuda Tent
4:05 New Card-Linked Travel Offers
4:36 Sign-Off
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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.
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