Recap: The Week’s Biggest 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.

Wyndham’s Rewards Program Is Now More Rewarding

Wyndham is the world’s largest hotel network. And its loyalty program just gets better and better.

Earn Up to 50,000 Bonus American Miles for Europe Flights

Flying to Europe between now and July 31? Good. Flying on a first-, business-, or full coach-fare ticket? Even better. Because, bonus miles.

Will Suspending Bag Fees Lead to Shorter Security Lines?

Two senators have petitioned the airlines to quit imposing fees for checked bags during the summer. Would that really lead to shorter security lines, as they suggest?

From Choice Hotels: 1 Free Night After 2 Stays

Between May 12 and August 18, Choice Privileges members can earn 8,000 points after two stays – enough for a free night at more than 1,500 Choice hotels.

Southwest, JetBlue Tops in Award-Seat Availability

A new study of airlines’ award-seat availability shows which mileage programs are the most generous, and which the stingiest.

Summer Travel Forecast: Long Lines, Short Tempers

Bottlenecks at TSA security checkpoints threaten to make summer air travel an exercise in waiting, waiting, waiting.

Alaska Air Has a New Mileage Partner: Japan Airlines

Alaska Airlines’ impressive roster of mileage-earning and rewards partners just got even better.

Popular Southwest Credit Card Comes with 50,000-Point Bonus

Good program. Good credit card. Great sign-up bonus. Get it!

Win a 15-Day River Cruise Between Amsterdam and Budapest

Enter the Conde Nast “Readers’ Choice Awards” sweepstakes by June 1 for a chance to win a 15-day Viking River Cruises trip for two from Amsterdam to Budapest, including air and transfers.

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

More from SmarterTravel:

• Travel the World for Free, as a Mule
• One Free Night After 3 Vegas Nights? Bet on It!
• Earn an Easy 700 American Miles, and a Chance to Win More

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.