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When I decided to leave my role at The Points Guy to invest more in my community, I needed to first find a home for all my writing.
As I mentioned in my farewell post, one of the things I knew I’d miss most about TPG was the storytelling: the scoops, first looks, guides, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the travel experience.
That’s where From the Tray Table comes in.
It’s not just my new home for reporting.
It’s my (free) newsletter-focused publication where I’ll be sharing more of what I see and do: my life, my travel hacks, my interests, and my take and analysis on what’s happening across travel, loyalty, and lifestyle.
And if you haven’t already subscribed, here’s why you’ll want to drop your email in the form a few paragraphs down.
About Zach
First, a brief introduction for those who don’t know me.
I’ve been in the travel industry for more than a decade. I’ve spent the past nearly eight years at The Points Guy, and while you might’ve read some of my stories there, you also might’ve seen my face across your social media feeds.
(If you haven’t, be sure you’re following me on Instagram, TikTok, and X.).
I grew up in Florida (Boca Raton represent), now live on the Upper West Side with my wife and one-year-old daughter, and recently graduated from Wharton with my MBA.
Outside of travel, I’m usually running (just completed my first NYC marathon), playing with new tech and gear, or baking challah (backup career plan?).
What I’m building
Over the past decade, I’ve covered the travel, loyalty, and gear beats from every angle — writing more than 1,800 stories, developing a deep network of industry contacts, and often being first to break the news.
The good news (for those who enjoy my work) is that I’m not changing what I do; I’m just doing it independently.
So, you might be wondering: Does the world really need another traditional travel or points blog?
Fair question — and honest take, probably not. Which is why this isn’t designed to be one.
From the Tray Table is first and foremost a newsletter — a concise, curated email with the most important news and insights (plus a few behind-the-scenes notes from my adventures) straight to your inbox, all designed to help you become a better traveler.
I’m still trying to figure out the best cadence to send emails, but I’ll start by sending two high-quality pieces each week and go from there.
The accompanying website — fromthetraytable.com — serves as the home base for my longer features, guides, reviews, and analyses.
Think of it more like an index or a library of past stories that you can leverage as you plan a specific trip, consider a new credit card, or fly a particular aircraft on an unfamiliar carrier.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Get the front-row look at the evolving world of travel, loyalty, tech and lifestyle — delivered directly to your inbox.
Each piece will live at its own link (so you can comment, share, and bookmark), but the best way to get every post — including subscriber-only exclusives — is to sign up for the (free) newsletter.
Some days, there’ll be a breaking story worthy of a dedicated email. Other times, I’ll send a digest packed with new insights, gear reviews, or card updates.
Subscribe today by entering your email below
What I’ll cover
The name From the Tray Table draws inspiration from the traveler’s perspective. Expect coverage across:
- Airlines, lounges, and airports
- Loyalty programs and credit cards
- New travel gear and tech
- Destination experiences, luxury hotels, lifestyle activities, and trends
- Life as a new dad living in NYC and traveling with a baby in tow
Beyond the news, I’ll share analysis and interviews — getting perspectives straight from the leaders making the decisions travelers love (and sometimes hate).
Plus, I’ll continue to take you behind the velvet rope — first looks, cabin tours, product launches, and the kind of immersive reporting that makes you feel like you’re right there next to me.
How can you support me?
I’m a new dad living in New York City, and while creating content is my passion, it’s also how I make a living.
That means a few things. For one, you’ll see affiliate links for products, cards, and gear I genuinely recommend.
There are plenty of other sites that also include affiliate links, but if you like what I’m doing, I’d really appreciate it if you’d consider using my links to support my content.
You’ll also see ads.
I know they can be annoying (trust me: I read all the popular travel sites too), but ads will hopefully play an essential role in keeping this content free for everyone.
Moreover, I’m considering an insider subscription, which would include access to private communities to chat about travel, credit cards, and loyalty strategy, deliver early scoops and timely deals, and other subscriber-only perks.
While I’m still finalizing what that might look like, I’ll soon open a limited-time founding membership that’ll include lifetime access to this new insider tier. Consider it an investment in my content.
As a token of my appreciation, I’ll also include two 30-minute virtual consulting sessions with me.
I’ll have a separate post on the site and on my social pages once this is ready.
Finally, I’ve also expanded into social media brand campaigns, startup advising, consulting for travel and finance brands, public speaking, and more. (Reach out if you’d like to learn more about this work.)
In the meantime, I’m heads-down creating — and I’d love for you to join me.
Sign up now to get the latest stories, guides, and updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Get the front-row look at the evolving world of travel, loyalty, tech and lifestyle — delivered directly to your inbox.
Glad to see you over here at Boarding Area – best of luck in your new adventures!