The man killed when a Frontier Airlines jet hit him on a Denver runway had 20 prior arrests, including attempted murder, and had been arrested again just one month before scaling an airport fence and walking into the path of the aircraft. Authorities have ruled the death a suicide,
Delta had a chance to move to Starlink, the inflight wifi system United is racing to install across its fleet. But an early SpaceX investor says the deal fell apart because Delta wanted Starlink behind its own branded portal — and now United may have the better passenger experience for years.
Transferable points used to be the easy hedge against airline and hotel devaluations: keep flexible currency, transfer only when award space appears. But the currencies themselves are now moving in different directions, with some programs adding value while others lose edge or introduce new risk.
The man struck by a Frontier Airlines jet during takeoff in Denver has now been identified, and authorities say his death was suicide. He had climbed an 8-foot perimeter fence, crossed into a remote airfield area, and reached the active runway within about two minutes — a rare but not unprecedented form of suicide by aircraft.
Citi launched a new premium credit card into an already crowded market — and it’s getting a lot of attention. Between a 75,000-point bonus, transferable points including American Airlines, and credits that can be used twice in the first year, the value can easily exceed the card’s annual fee.
United flight attendants have finally ratified a new contract after 5.5 years without a raise, with 82% voting yes. The deal brings major wage increases, a $740 million lump-sum payout, boarding pay, and top hourly rates scheduled to exceed $100 — but Delta may still set the real compensation benchmark if profits keep flowing.
Humanoid robots are now getting their own airline seats, and the rules are not ready. Southwest crews delayed one flight over a passenger’s 75-pound robot. On another crew had to figure out whether it was a passenger, baggage, or a lithium-battery problem. Robots are starting to enter ordinary travel faster than airline rules can keep up.
American Airlines flight attendants who perform best at onboard credit card pitches got rewarded with a Florida getaway. Plus: Delta and Amex describe their card partnership as “one P&L,” hotels turn Mother’s Day into a housekeeping excuse, and InKind moves from flat 20% back to dynamic rewards.
Southwest’s switch to assigned seating may have cured many of its wheelchair “miracles,” but the airport line-skipping incentive has not gone away. A single U.S.-bound flight from Taipei reportedly had more than 60 wheelchairs waiting — proving that when everyone gets airport priority, nobody does.
Washington Dulles may finally get the rebuild travelers have wanted for decades: real rail-connected concourses, the end of its “temporary” C/D complex, and a move away from mobile lounges. The catch is the price tag has climbed to $22 billion — enough to push airport costs above $90 per passenger unless taxpayers or some privatization scheme pick up much of the bill.
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 »
