American Airlines now sells first class upgrades for as little as $40 — but if you cancel your trip, that money’s gone. The airline even tried to fix the problem, then botched the rollout and rolled it back, leaving travelers stuck paying for upgrades they never took.
A woman checking into a $15 hotel room in Sanya, China demanded a refund after midnight — and when told it was too late, she turned on the taps, flooded the room, and even called the police herself. The result: $4,200 in damages and the most expensive “refund” imaginable.
Marriott has finally confirmed its long-unwritten rule: members who fall short of requalifying for elite status won’t lose it all. Instead, they’ll be dropped just one level — formalizing a “soft landing” policy the chain has quietly practiced for decades.
The FAA just banned private flights at 12 major airports, but it’s a move that came too late — and focused on the wrong places. Most general aviation traffic never touches these hubs, meaning the new restrictions will do little to ease controller shortages or flight delays.
Since the 1930s, nearly every airplane has boarded passengers from the left side. The reason traces back to a small procedural habit that aviation inherited — and never escaped.
A longtime United Airlines flight attendant was rushed to the hospital after landing in London following a transatlantic flight from San Francisco, where she had reportedly consumed multiple bottles of vodka inflight. Authorities found her ten times over the legal alcohol limit for aviation personnel.
November 2025 brings a fresh round of best-ever credit card offers, with several new bonuses added and others already gone. Here’s the up-to-date list of the most lucrative deals still available.
Marriott abruptly ended its 20-year Sonder partnership, pulling properties from Bonvoy overnight. Guests who booked through Marriott are learning the points and benefits they were promised no longer apply.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly texted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make the offer, but even if the FAA wants the help, it may not be able to use it. Military controllers aren’t certified in civilian airspace, use different systems, and can’t simply plug into the FAA’s network without retraining or emergency waivers.
A Rome-bound ITA Airways Airbus A330 departing Los Angeles International Airport turned directly toward an American Airlines jet taking off from a parallel runway, prompting urgent controller commands to prevent a collision. The two aircraft reportedly came within about a mile of each other at the same altitude before air traffic control ordered evasive maneuvers.
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 »
