News and notes from around the interweb:
- United wants $12,670 to upgrade to 1K status – and calls it a ‘discount’
Comment
byu/VegetableRealistic60 from discussion
inunitedairlines - How on earth can the default option be an 18% tip at self-service checkout from an airport concessionaire? And how can they also charge a credit card processing surcharge, when they do not accept other forms of payment here?
If it’s an optional service I can understand the logic, but if it’s a required part of the transaction then there’s really just one ‘price’ to make the purchase. You’re just lying about the price. Hey, Austin, demand better of your concessionaires.


- American Airlines has spent handsomely to win back managed corporate travel, in staff and incentives and commissions. CEO Robert Isom says they’ve recouped the $1.5 billion hole they dug for themselves. Costs are up, so why hasn’t their revenue gone up too?
- American Airlines has to order widebodies. They retired their Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s and they just don’t have a pipeline of planes coming in. But they aren’t making money which puts them in a tough spot.
Love this chart for clarity https://t.co/Sexo29Hr3U
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) January 28, 2026
- You people are disgusting.
Since when did "Economy Class" become code for "I’ve forgotten how to be a human"? ✈️
Personally, I make it a point to hand my trash to the crew during the actual collection or take it with me. It takes 2 seconds and shows a shred of respect for the cleaners who are working on… pic.twitter.com/xKWxRrBFp8
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) January 27, 2026
- But how do you ‘laugh it off’ and not say something?


Yeah I got United’s offer to keep 1K for $12k. I only missed it by 6k. Absurd. Thing is, I enjoy 1K so much much that I told myself I’d pay for 1K if the cost was around 2.
No, try 12. Who would do that? What’s the point? To mock you?
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Gary, seriously, nothing on 1-year since AA5342? Or are you and the others saving that for later?
If asked for a custom tip, enter “-20%”. After all, you are providing a service to the self checkout store.
It costs them nothing to add the tip screen.
And tip-happy idiots will tip. America is full of them.
The No Tip, with next increment 18% seems like it is not well thought out. Someone might be more willing to throw 10% given that there is no clear recipient.
All airport authority cares about is that they get their cut of the tip revenue.
Re: American wide bodies.
They have 19 on order?
Little tiny Alaska has 17 787’s on order.
It’s comparisons like this that make you wonder what AA’s leadership was thinking.
Anyone else’s Bilt Card show up? Got mine today.
@Mike P — Cool. Not yet. Did you get that Palladium, limited-edition, mirror-finish?