Hey there, points enthusiasts! Welcome to another episode of Miles & Points Daily. I'm Lucas, and today we've got some exciting updates that'll help you travel smarter and save more.

First up, let's talk about a game-changing opportunity with Southwest Airlines. Starting May first, you'll be able to score extra legroom seats completely free! Southwest is converting their entire fleet to include these premium seats by the end of two thousand and twenty-five, but here's the kicker - they won't start charging for them until two thousand and twenty-six. That means a whole year of potential free upgrades if you're lucky enough to get on one of their converted planes.

In other airline news, United Airlines has some exciting plans for two thousand and twenty-six. They're introducing their A321XLR aircraft with brand new Polaris business class seats and Premium Plus cabins. For anyone who loves flying United's premium products, this is definitely something to look forward to.

Here's a great tip for our younger listeners - if you're under twenty-five years old, you could save up to twenty percent on international flights. This is a lesser-known trick that could save you some serious cash on your next overseas adventure.

American Airlines has been making improvements in their baggage handling. They've reduced mishandled bags by twenty-nine percent in the first quarter, showing improvement for twenty-five straight months. Though they still top the list for lost luggage among U.S. carriers, it's encouraging to see progress.

And here's a quick savings opportunity - Staples is running a no-activation-fee promotion on two hundred dollar Mastercard gift cards from April twentieth through April twenty-sixth. That's a great way to save on some everyday spending.

Before we wrap up, I've got a great tool to share with you all.

Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.

That's all for today's episode! Thanks for tuning in to Miles & Points Daily. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more travel tips and tricks. See you tomorrow!