A Qatar Airways passenger on a long-haul flight snapped after the person in front of her reclined, and instead of asking politely or calling crew she escalated: she put her feet on the seatback headrest, jostled the seat, and even clapped her sneakers over the other passenger’s head. Multiple people told her to stop, but she refused until a flight attendant finally stepped in and ordered her to put her feet down.
Business Platinum is really aggressive right now with an elevated offer to earn 200,000 points.
American Airlines and United are locked in a fierce, expensive battle over Chicago O’Hare Airport—flooding the market with flights, low fares, and aggressive marketing. Yet both carriers are strangely leaving their strongest strategic weapon unused: their massive frequent flyer programs and credit card partnerships, a surprising oversight that could cost either airline the competitive edge they desperately need.
American Airlines is celebrating its 100th anniversary by serving caviar, Beef Wellington, and other luxurious dishes in business class, signaling a renewed focus on premium offerings—at least temporarily.
Passengers were stunned as a bizarre air traffic control exchange sounded “like listening to ‘The Price Is Right.'” Plus, Starbucks’ new loyalty tiers aren’t revolutionary, and Frontier Airlines is giving away 5,000 free miles.
Southwest Airlines quietly revealed to the SEC that customers are redeeming fewer Rapid Rewards points than ever—a troubling sign that loyal passengers may be turning away just as the airline makes major changes.
Bilt Rewards cardholders were furious when the company replaced their easy ‘free points’ earned from paying rent—but in their outrage, many overlooked new benefits and higher value that could actually leave them better off. Here’s what went wrong in the rollout, why consumers were so angry, and what analysts miss.
American Airlines pilots have joined flight attendants in revealing they were forced to sleep in airports during last week’s meltdown, with their union blasting management as “completely unprepared,” despite clear warnings ahead of the storm.
Hyatt is advertising this card bonus as 5 free nights, but the spend required to earn it also triggers the card’s annual Category 1–4 night and generates enough points for another award night. Put it together and the “5-night” offer can realistically turn into 7 nights at Category 1–4 Hyatt hotels.
American Airlines is adding more first class seats to its cramped Airbus A319s—but there’s a catch. To squeeze in an extra row up front, the airline is tightening economy legroom and even installing flight attendant seats directly on lavatory doors, breaking a promise previously made by former CEO Doug Parker. A bit of good news, though – during this transition American will load extra first class meals on planes that have just 8 seats.
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 »
