American Express Cardholders Get Free Drinks at Panera Bread

American Express Cardholders Get Free Drinks at Panera Bread

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.Thanks to a renewed partnership with Panera Bread, American Express cardholders again have the opportunity to score free beverages at the popular chain restaurant, which has more than 2,100 locations across the U.S. and is known for its bakery items, sandwiches and soups.Now through Dec. 31, 2022, American Express cardholders who register for this offer will receive a complimentary four-month subscription to Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club, which offers unlimited coffee, tea, lemonade and other drinks for $11.99 per month.Below, Select takes a closer look at the promotion and how American Express cardholders can take advantage of it.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Who is eligible and how to sign upThe Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits.
  • Welcome bonusEarn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, from the date of account opening
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

To redeem the offer online, follow these steps to sign up before Dec. 31, 2022:

  1. Redeem the offer through this link
  2. Login on the American Express website to confirm your account
  3. Make sure you have a MyPanera account and sign up for a Panera Unlimited Sip Club subscription through Panera Bread’s website

Once your sign-up is complete, the complimentary four-month trial will begin. When that ends, you’ll automatically be charged the current rate ($11.99 plus tax per month at the time of publication) for a subscription unless you choose to cancel it sooner.Those who are not American Express cardholders can still score free access to Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club through a different promotion. New subscribers who sign up for a membership by Nov. 9, 2022, get their first month free, with the option of canceling the subscription at any time before being charged the regular monthly rate.Panera Unlimited Sip Club benefitsUnlimited Sip Club subscribers have access to a variety of free drinks, including drip hot coffee, iced and hot tea and coffee, fountain soda beverages, hot tea, bubbler drinks, and Charged Lemonades — and can get one for free once every two hours, as well as enjoy unlimited refills while you’re in a Panera Bread location. Even better, you can order any size.Note that this offer does exclude other beverages such as smoothies, bottled drinks, cold brew iced coffee, espresso and cappuccino beverages and frozen blended beverages, as well as beverage enhancements such as espresso and syrups including Madagascar vanilla, caramel, cinnamon and bittersweet chocolate.Bottom lineIf you live near a Panera Bread location, have an American Express card, and haven’t already joined Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club, this offer provides an easy way to score some free beverages this fall — just make sure you’ve signed up for it before December 31, 2022.To avoid being charged at the end of the fourth-month subscription, set a reminder in your calendar to cancel before the trial period is up. There are also a number of subscription trackers like Rocket Money and Trim that make it easy to keep tabs on your subscriptions.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees for The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

Airlines revamp in-flight menus, from vegan meatballs to ice cream sundaes

Airlines revamp in-flight menus, from vegan meatballs to ice cream sundaes

Courtesy: Singapore AirlinesThe aromas of airplane food are once again wafting through cabins at 35,000 feet.From vegan meatballs to ice cream sundaes, airlines are offering new options and old favorites to woo returning travelers. As the peak travel season fades and inflation weighs on household and company budgets, it’s even more important than usual for airlines to court passengers.Airplane food, a favorite travel punchline for comedians, is hardly the top reason why travelers choose a carrier — price and schedule are much stronger factors. But it can be a creature comfort on board and can go a long way toward winning over passengers, especially those who are willing to pay up for premium seats, analysts say.”Food is one of the most tangible signals of what an airline thinks of its customers,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group and a former airline executive.The start of the Covid-19 pandemic halted almost all food and beverage service on flights as travel collapsed and airlines limited crews’ contact with passengers to avoid spreading the virus. The pandemic drove airlines to record losses and had them looking to cut costs wherever possible, such as in-flight food.With travel returning, airlines around the world are rolling out new menu options. Alcohol sales, with some new ready-to-drink options, are back on board in U.S. coach cabins. And face masks are now mostly optional, removing an obstacle to onboard food and beverage service.As tastes change and airlines face supply chain challenges, the meal on your seat-back tray table is making a comeback — with some adjustments.Chasing high-paying travelersBetter in-flight menus can boost a carrier’s image and help it bring more high-paying travelers on board. First- and business-class customers are becoming even more of a prize as airlines try to recover from the pandemic’s financial impact.Because of “the incentive to win those premium class passengers, the incentive to spend more money [on food] is high,” said Steve Walsh, partner at management consulting firm Oliver Wyman in its transportation and services practice.Still, food and beverage costs make up just about 3% of a full-service airline’s expenses, he estimated.Courtesy: Singapore Airlines | American AirlinesWhile food is for sale in many domestic coach cabins and is generally complimentary on long-haul international flights, many of the new offerings target those in premium classes, where there are fewer passengers and service is more elaborate.A plethora of videos have been posted online by airline passengers reviewing meals, plating and service in detail. Popular staples such as Biscoff cookies and Stroopwaffel treats garner loyal followings and come to be expected by many travelers. Missteps on the menu or service are amplified on social media by disappointed travelers.One offering: Delta is serving passengers on long-haul international flights a new sundae-in-a-cup premixed with chocolate, cherries and spiced Belgian cookies called speculoos, which are known in North America as Biscoff cookies.”Obviously it is an homage to the Biscoff,” said Mike Henny, Deltas’ managing director of onboard services operations.In more premium cabins, such as Delta One on international flights, passengers can build their own sundaes with a choice of toppings, including Morello cherry compote, chocolate sauce and speculoos cookie crumbles.Ice cream on Delta Air LinesSource: Delta Air LinesDelta in July said the revenue recovery in premium products and its extra-legroom seats was outpacing sales from standard coach — further motivation to introduce new and exciting food items.Last week, the airline said it is teaming up with James Beard Award winner Mashama Bailey, executive chef of Savannah, Georgia-based restaurant The Grey, for “Southern-inspired” meals on flights out of Atlanta for domestic first-class passengers. Travelers on Delta One flying internationally out of the hub can also preorder menu items curated by Bailey.Airlines for years have teamed up with celebrity chefs to design their menus and lately have been working more with local businesses. In February, American Airlines brought Tamara Turner’s Silver Spoon Desserts’ Bundt cakes on board domestic premium cabins.Veggie and veganEven before the pandemic, airlines were expanding options for travelers who prefer vegetarian and vegan meals. Now, those types of alternative dishes are getting an even closer look.”Pasta isn’t always the solution,” said Delta’s Henny.Singapore Airlines, a carrier that operates some of the world’s longest flights, brought in Southern California-based luxury spa Golden Door to develop dozens of recipes for its in-flight menu. Golden Door’s executive chef, Greg Frey Jr., focuses on vegetable-forward dishes that he says are among the best for digestion on flights.”I think people are, rightly so, concerned they’re not going to feel as satiated with this vegetarian meal and [think] ‘I just need this piece of meat.’ And in the end … you really don’t need that much protein when you’re sitting in an airplane and relaxing,” he said. “It’s not like you’re heavy lifting.”An hour later, you’re not going, ‘Ugh, I wish I didn’t have the meatballs.'”Greg Frey Jr.executive chef at Golden DoorFrey developed a Portobello mushroom “meat ball” dish that’s served with a dairy-free risotto made with vegetable broth. The mushroom balls are steamed and served with an heirloom tomato sauce: “There’s not a lick of meat in there,” he said.”It’s so satisfying and you get all those umami flavors,” he said. “The best part is an hour later, you’re not going, ‘Ugh, I wish I didn’t have the meatballs.'”Supply chain puzzleGreens and salads are among the most difficult dishes to serve on board. Airline chefs have to make sure ingredients are hardy enough to endure transportation and refrigeration, making stronger greens such as kale a better option than some more delicate varieties.”We have to be very choosy about what type of greens we offer,” said American Airlines spokeswoman Leah Rubertino. “Arugula, for example, is not our friend.”The airline is offering salads on more flights compared with before the pandemic, Rubertino said.The airline is also now offering a “fiesta grain bowl” with rice, quinoa, black beans, cauliflower, corn and zucchini as a vegetarian option in many first-class cabins for domestic flights.Airlines have been trying to source vegetables more locally, giving their catering companies fresher ingredients and cutting down on transportation time and costs. Singapore Airlines since 2019 has been using greens from AeroFarms, a vertical farm near Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Spokesman James Boyd said the airline has plans to source from other vertical farms close to the major airports it serves in the coming years.Vertical farm at Aerofarms in New JerseyLeslie Josephs | CNBCOnce the ingredients are sourced, there’s the challenge of serving meals for thousands of passengers — made only more difficult by broad supply-chain and labor shortages and delicate ingredients.Airlines have struggled to staff in a tight labor market, as have airport catering kitchens and other suppliers.”There’s not a day that goes by where we don’t have issues with provisioning our aircraft with pillows, blankets, plastic cups, food,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said on a quarterly call in July.Delta’s Henny said the carrier phased food back gradually to ease strains on service.”We knew we couldn’t just flip a switch,” he said. “We had to be very creative at the height of the pandemic.”As food service expands, airlines are encouraging travelers to order their meals ahead of time so the carriers know what to load on the plane, whether it’s a special meal for religious or other dietary restrictions or just their favorite dishes in first class.Meanwhile, some flight attendants still have to make do with what’s on board.Susannah Carr, a flight attendant at a major airline and a member of the Association of Flight Attendants union, told CNBC that if the crew doesn’t have a vegetarian meal on board for a premium-class passenger, “We might pull some additional salad and make them a bigger salad” and incorporate a cheese plate.”We’ve definitely gotten good at ‘McGyvering,'” she said. .

Fashion retailer Pour Moi could pay you to drink pumpkin spice lattes

Fashion retailer Pour Moi could pay you to drink pumpkin spice lattes

Planning to drink some pumpkin spice lattes this fall? If so, a British fashion company could cover the cost of your pricey drinks — and pay you an additional $350, too.The company, Pour Moi, is looking for an undisclosed number of “pumpkin spice latte taste testers” to visit large coffee chains, try the seasonal latte and report back with ratings and reviews. The company says it wants to determine which chain actually sells the best version of the drink, from Starbucks or Dunkin’ to 7-Eleven or Krispy Kreme.Meanwhile, you’ll get free coffee — and a few hundred extra dollars in your pocket.”With so many places offering a pumpkin spice latte or similar seasonal drinks, it can be hard to decipher the good from the bad,” reads Pour Moi’s description of the contest, adding: “To ensure you start autumn in the best way, we are looking to hire one lucky person to test all the pumpkin spice lattes and seasonal drinks available in 2022.”The UAE moved its weekend. Here's what happened nextThe job listing doesn’t specify exactly how many drinks you’d need to sample, but if the company is paying for them, your only potential downside might be over-caffeination.The winners won’t be the only people lining up for seasonal beverages this fall. Starbucks reportedly sells more than 20 million pumpkin spice lattes each year, and the chain has sold over 600 million since the drink debuted in 2003, according to CNN.That success has made the pumpkin spice latte one of the coffee giant’s most popular menu items. It debuts earlier and earlier each year — usually well before September 22, when the calendar officially turns to fall.For Pour Moi’s taste testers, it’ll be a good thing the company is covering the cost of the drinks, because they’ll likely be subject to a pumpkin spice premium. In 2017, analysts at MagnifyMoney found that the popularity of pumpkin spice-flavored products typically results in upcharges that increase the price of your coffee, or other pumpkin-flavored products, by around 8% on average.Though Pour Moi is based in the U.K., the company says it will consider all global applicants for the role, as long as you’re located somewhere “where limited edition autumnal drinks are available.” Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have an email address and have a “strong enthusiasm for autumn, a penchant for pumpkins [and] lots of experience in drinking pumpkin spice lattes (desired, not essential).”To apply for the gig, fill out Pour Moi’s online form by explaining why you should be chosen for the job and answering the question: “What do you love most about autumn?”Applications close on September 30. Pour Moi says winners will be chosen “at random” and contacted during the week of October 3.Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletterDon’t miss:These 3 simple steps can help you find a job that ‘makes you really, really happy’These hacks can help you land your dream job right now, according to career expertsWhy Kevin O'Leary says quiet quitting is bad for your career .

The Right Stuff, a dating app for conservatives, launches this fall

The Right Stuff, a dating app for conservatives, launches this fall

Ryann McEnany announces launch of conservative dating app, The Right Stuff The app, co-founded by three former Trump administration officials, will launch in the fall of 2022. Credit: The Right Stuff via Storyful These days, there’s a dating app for everyone, from farmers to parents to goths. Another one being thrown in the mix hopes to help you find your Mr. or Mrs. “Right” — a conservative, right-leaning partner, that is.  The Right Stuff is a new dating app for conservatives only, co-founded by John McEntee, Daniel Huff and Isaac Stalzer, three former Trump administration officials. The app is backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. 1.-App-Store-6.5.jpg The site will launch in September and is free to join, but will be invite-only à la Clubhouse style (if you remember the social audio app’s craze mid-pandemic). This means you can’t join unless you know someone who’s already a member and they send you an invite. The invite list is limitless, though.  “Other dating apps have gone woke,” a tagline on the website reads, later specifically mentioning that this is a way to view profiles “without pronouns.” “Connect with people who aren’t offended by everything,” the site continues to promise.  4.-App-Store-Screens.jpg Women who join are eligible for a free premium subscription after they invite two friends, Ryann McEnany, the sister of former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany who’s serving as the app’s spokesperson, revealed in an introductory video posted to the site.  Otherwise, the premium subscription will be available for $9.99 a month. A premium account gives you the ability to like more profiles and access exclusive events.  3.-App-Store-Screens.jpg “The Right Stuff is all about getting into the right dating pool, with people who share the same values and beliefs as you,” McEnany said in the site’s promotional video.  The site also introduces a “date” feature, where you can post a date idea and see if anyone is interested, a feature that could come in handy, say, if you have an extra ticket for a concert or sporting event. Right now the feature is unique to The Right Stuff. “We came up with the concept while trying to think of the best way to get people out,” as a way to incentivize “doing” over “talking,” McEntee explained in an email to FOX Television Stations.  2.-App-Store-Screens.jpg Right now, you can sign up for early access at joinrightstuff.com.  “We are thrilled by the initial response, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the app next month!” McEntee said. This story was reported from Detroit .