United CEO Scott Kirby marked Veterans Day by declaring his airline “the best in the history of aviation.” But is that claim even close? From Pan Am’s glory days to Singapore Airlines’ long reign at the top, here’s who really deserves the title.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
The Citi Strata Elite SM Card just got a major boost — a 100,000-point welcome offer after $6,000 spend in three months, plus earning rates up to 12X and the only transferable link to American AAdvantage. Add credits that can be double dipped in the first cardmember year, Admirals Club passes, and full travel protections, and Citi’s new flagship card is suddenly a must-watch player in the premium rewards space.
Marriott abruptly ended its partnership with Sonder, forcing guests with confirmed reservations to leave their rooms the same day. Some customers have received 40,000 Marriott points as a goodwill gesture — a small consolation after being evicted from stays Marriott had confirmed.
An American Airlines regional jet bound for Washington, D.C. diverted to Columbus after its cockpit windshield cracked mid-flight. The crew declared an emergency out of caution, landed safely, and passengers later continued on another aircraft.
TAP Air Portugal is offering a paid status match that lets American Airlines and Delta flyers enjoy Star Alliance Gold perks for a year — including United Club lounge access, free checked bags, and priority boarding across United and its partners.
A wheelchair passenger alleges she was abandoned overnight at Miami International Airport after an American Airlines attendant left her at a gate. She missed her connection, spent the night in a cold room, and has now sued the airline over the ordeal.
Aviation YouTuber Josh Cahill says Air Côte d’Ivoire “secretly canceled” his business class ticket on its inaugural A330neo flight and demanded $1,500 to rebook him. After he posted a viral review claiming he was “downgraded, scammed & censored,” the airline fired back, calling it a misunderstanding caused by an IT glitch. And, in fact, he flew business class for no extra charge.
An American Airlines maintenance error in Tulsa during brake system modification, swapping hydraulic lines and reversing wheel speed sensor wiring, defeated the Beoing 737-800’s antiskid logic. This resulted in total loss of effective braking, tire failure, and runway overrun. No injuries occurred, but the event prompted fleetwide maintenance audits and Boeing procedural updates.
A 1960s-era Dulles Airport “mobile lounge” collided with a terminal dock Friday afternoon, injuring and hospitalizing up to 18 passengers. The people mover—part of a fleet designed more than half a century ago—remains in daily use despite its age and limited manufacturer support.
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 »
