A bald eagle was set to fly Delta Air Lines from San Francisco to Atlanta on Tuesday. It was escorted by a professional falconer, who had the eagle out in the aisle while passengers filmed and took selfies with it.
News and notes from around the interweb: Jeffrey Epstein stayed on friends and family rates at Hyatt. In fairness, Hyatt’s Friends & Family rate is often is a very good deal and it earns full points and stay credit. Mildly interesting – Epstein stayed on friends/family rates at Hyatt byu/dogemaster00 inhyatt We all have hobbies. A Moroccan man climbs onto the roof of a Vueling A320 at Valencia Airport after gaining access to the airport and using the aircraft stairs to get to the top of the fuselage. Three civil guards convinced the man to come down approximately 10 minutes later. A day before the… pic.twitter.com/ELghVQup7m — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) February 1, 2026 The Trump administration still enforces antitrust, even in aviation. This is relevant as we think about JetBlue, Spirit and…
A viral video with over 2.5 million views captures the shocking moment a teen repeatedly kicking a passenger’s seat gets his teeth broken when the passenger sharply reclines in response
Chase just launched the biggest-ever Marriott Boundless bonus: 5 Free Night Awards after $3,000 in 3 months, valid up to 50,000 points per night (and you can top off each with 15,000 points). There is also a 2026 airline statement credit up to $100, and the no-fee Marriott Bold now offers 2 Free Night Awards after $1,000 in spend.
Southwest Airlines is now forcing passengers to gate-check their carry-on bags early, claiming overhead bins are full even when plenty of space remains available.
This controversial practice, long associated with American, Delta, and United, marks a real shift triggered by Southwest’s recent adoption of assigned seating and checked bag fees, undermining their historical advantage in efficient boarding and angering customers.
American Airlines is being sued over the deadly January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport, despite the U.S. government already admitting liability for the crash involving an Army helicopter and an American Eagle regional jet. Plaintiffs argue the airline shares responsibility, even though American complied fully with federal safety protocols—and the government’s failures in airspace design and air traffic control are clearly documented.
An influencer is sparking debate by claiming airlines should reward thinner passengers with free checked bags, arguing that total passenger weight—including your luggage—should determine ticket prices. While appealing at first glance, this provocative idea ignores airline economics, practical logistics, and legal realities, ultimately proving itself more effective as culture war fodder than actual policy.
An influencer recently went shirtless in Emirates business class, sparking debate about what’s acceptable behavior onboard premium flights. While some have dismissed this as harmless, the issue goes beyond etiquette—it’s a genuine hygiene concern, raising questions about whether passengers should be putting bare skin directly on seats others will soon use.
Hyatt’s latest “Bonus Journeys 26” promotion is live, offering 3,000 bonus points every three nights stayed through April 15, plus an extra 1,000 points at Hyatt Place and Hyatt Select properties. With up to 28,000 total bonus points available, it’s worth registering—even if you aren’t planning Hyatt stays yet. Just be aware: stays of one or two nights won’t earn anything, so plan accordingly.
Waymo can finally take riders to SFO, but airport rules still force drop-offs at the rental car center while Uber and Lyft can go straight to the terminal. Also in this roundup: Charlotte’s lounge pipeline is finally real, United and American keep battling in Chicago, a former Chicago migrant shelter becomes an IHG Ruby hotel, plus new transfer bonuses for February.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
