Delta disclosed that it has 9 million American Express cardmembers. They also shared how many members participate in their Starbucks and Uber partnerships – and we can infer just how much spending is happening on their cards, and the balances that cardmembers are revolving.
Bankrupt Spirit Airlines is trying to turn its LaGuardia flight slots into $87 million, but the airport’s operator says the airline is trying to auction off rights that aren’t Spirit’s to sell. That sounds like a major problem—except FAA-approved slot sales are real, and LaGuardia still has to provide airport access on reasonable, non-discriminatory terms.
An American Airlines passenger says the woman seated behind him became erratic during descent, lunged over his seat, and slammed him into the cabin wall hard enough to knock off his glasses and possibly leave him unconscious. He is suing the alleged attacker directly, not American, while a related federal criminal case plays out first.
TSA has moved from “remove your laptop” to “remove your cat.” Before heading to the airport, check your suitcase for a feline stowaway. Plus Airbus a350 damaged during water cannon salute, Alaska award sale and points transfers, and draconion cancellation fees.
Three weeks ago I revealed that American Airlines had brought restaurant-style ordering of hot food items to its Flagship lounges. American has now announced this change – along with several others.
A Delta flight from St. Thomas to New York saw a pre-takeoff argument that ended with everyone involved kicked off the plane. Also: GHA Discovery offers paid elite status through 2027, Southwest blows up its succession plan, Alaska opens its new Portland lounge while cutting basic economy mileage earning,
Passengers on an Israeli airline flight bound for Slovenia ended up in Croatia instead after Slovenian authorities refused to let the plane land, forcing travelers to continue by ground to Ljubljana – all on the last day of the outgoing Slovenia which has been anti-Israel, before a new friendlier government took power.
A Cathay Pacific passenger needed real help after a canceled flight, but the chat response exposed how airline customer service increasingly uses AI to manufacture empathy while failing to solve the real problem. The agent pasted the prompt instead of the reply, the instructions to acknowledge feelings, sound positive, and validate the customer.
A Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 bound for Los Angeles had its nose gear collapse or unexpectedly retract, injuring several employees. The flight was canceled, and passengers may now be eligible for EU261 compensation that could reach $200,000.
A passenger took off shoes and socks and began grooming bare feet right at an airline seat, treating the cabin like a private bathroom instead of shared space. The problem is not just that other passengers have to watch — it’s that aircraft seats, carpets and seatbacks are not deep-cleaned between every flight, and someone else is getting that same seat next.
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 »
