JetBlue Founder David Neeleman Says He Uses a Delta SkyMiles Card — Even Though Cash Back Would Get Him More Travel [Roundup]

by Gary Leff

News and notes from around the interweb:

  • Dave Neeleman at Skift Aviation Forum: “I hava Delta SkyMiles card in my wallet, because I live in Salt Lake.” He explains he uses it to pay for family travel.

    He also smiled and refused to answer whether he uses his Delta or Breeze Airways credit card more – and he’s Founder, CEO and Chairman of Breeze.

    Oy. Even a basic no annual fee 2% cash back card would get him more travel on Delta! I have a lot of respect for what Neeleman has done in the industry, but one thing he hasn’t ever excelled at with any of his airlines is loyalty marketing…

  • There’s a reason why independent airport lounges are destined to be mid. p.s. is a niche product that only works in a few airports and won’t scale. Plaza Premium is trying with its ‘First’ product in a couple of places. But a startup will never even get the terminal space to build out at ‘the top 100 airports’ even if the economics could work. There’s a reason why Capital One’s network is still so small, and none of the banks have lounges at O’Hare (and won’t until the new Global Terminal comes online).

  • This looks to me like July 19, 2024, out of Denver…

  • Marriott gifts to Ambassador members can be so weird.

    Ambassador Gift
    byu/Bucs88 inmarriott

  • A Singapore Airlines complaint is going viral in Southeast Asia. A coach passenger flying London Heathrow to Singapore had indicated he wanted chicken but by the time the cart reached him only fish was left. He ate, says he got an upset stomach, and took to TikTok.

    Some argue that catering should be managed so rear rows still have choice, but others argue that’s just how airline catering works. You aren’t guaranteed your choice unless you’re in a position to pre-order or you’re sitting where first choice is given. There was also a lot of backlash, that coach passengers shouldn’t complain about food.

  • Qantas first class lounge private rooms are bookable even by partner airline elites with access to the lounge

  • I’m genuinely triggered.

  • Citi loses Aeromexicoas a transfer partner January 25, 2026. This is no big deal, as Aeromexico is trash except for occasional discount redemption deals on their own metal from specific cities. TikTok creators used to promote round the world awards with Aeromexico and I used to mock them because none had ever actually tried to book one in practice. Not only are awards expensive, but customer service is terrible.

  • FAA deputy administrator visits JSX, endorses their safety. This is such a far cry from when the FAA was being compromised by lobbyists from American Airlines, Southwest and ALPA and promising to put them out of business as a competitor.

About Gary Leff

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 »

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Comments

  1. I still remember when Gary had a post about Neeleman where he included reference to him being a Mormon and a few commenters couldn’t handle it. Where you folks at today? Bring the outrage.

  2. For those who doubt, here it is was: https://viewfromthewing.com/from-flydubai-to-breeze-airways-the-boeing-boeing-pilot-juggling-marriages-on-two-continents-returns-to-the-skies/

    “Breeze, founded by Mormon David Neeleman…”

    And, back then (January 2025), commenter @Jay Gee brought up the concern (like, why include that descriptor, Gary), but later claimed he wasn’t ‘offended,’ so maybe there wasn’t outrage, after all. And, @Christian, I think we came to agreement at the end there, but, then again, maybe not. Let’s bring it all back. Re-light the match, and drop it on that puddle of gasoline… *wink*

  3. I still remember when aviation websites didn’t have trolls like 1990 in the comment sections trying to start stupid outrage from nothing

  4. Fish is usually my absolutely last choice on airline food. I also rarely order it in a restaurant. Fish has so many ways of going bad. This story is an example of most passengers choosing the other option when fish is one of the options. The Singapore Airlines customer was at fault for getting fish because if you are in a seat where you may be served last, you should book a specialty meal. I usually pay for a coach seat that puts me as far forward as I can go but a lot of times others have booked seats in front of me. If you want to be cheap and not book a seat, you may get a seat that is undesirable and may end up without a choice in meals so it would be best to book a specialty meal.

  5. @jns – some airlines serve from the back (and sometimes from both directions). Therefore there is no guaranteed seat to get a specific selection. You mentioned ordering a specialty meal but the other, easier IMHO, option is to simply select the meal you want in advance. Maybe that isn’t possible on Singapore economy (I have only flown them business and premium economy and in both cases could preorder). That usually ensures you get what you want.

    BTW – Gary fishing on Tik Tok and Reddit again where you get people posting about how something “should” be without any experience or understanding. All airlines make an educated guess about meal selection and very common to run out of one or more options as I’m sure everyone on here knows. You aren’t guaranteed your meal selection even if you order in advance but that increases the odds.

  7. @Retired Gambler, I have flown a number of airlines across the Pacific in coach and none of them have offered coach passengers a chance to pre select a coach meal. Most have a good selection of specialty meals but I have found that all of those are lacking in some way or another (I have requested some of what is available at one time or another) so I take my chances on the standard meal. I have not flown across the Pacific on a USA airline since Delta took over Northwest Airlines. I used the last of the miles earned on Northwest on a roundtrip Delta ticket that had the transpacific flights on Korean Air metal.

    The first coach meal is almost always served from the front. Therefore a passenger nearer the front of the front most coach cabin gets to choose. Sometime the second meal, almost always a breakfast style meal in my experience, is served from the rear. Fish is less likely to be part of a breakfast style meal. Of breakfast style meals on eastern Asian airlines, congee is almost always one of the choices. I actually like it and sometimes get it, especially if what is offered as an alternative is not to my liking.

    Specialty meals that I remember are low sodium as lacking in flavor and diabetic as not only lacking in flavor but being unappetizing as well. Mind you, I did not get sick on them but I did not go back to them.

  10. I carry a Delta card (Platinum) as well but use it for targeted spend.
    I’m based in ATL so heavy Delta flier
    Gives me $2500 in MQD’s toward status (Diamond)
    I put Delta flights on the card which is a good point value
    Plat & Diamond choice benefit is a statement credit which I take (value dropping in 2026)
    15% “savings” on reward redemptions

    I dont put most spend on it but I get value from the card.

  11. I love ordering fish. I only do that from sources I know can treat it right. In the US, that means restaurants that specialize in seafood or are high end. In France, that’s most any restaurant that locals like. On airplanes. Nope, not worth the risk (and generally a poor reward). Do US carriers actually offer fish dishes in the main cabin? I see it as a pre-order option up front.

  12. It’s a bad look for sure, but I’m assuming he and his family probably already get free travel on Breeze. So it makes sense to put your spend on something that gets him and his (perhaps large) family status on the local dominant airline.

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