A TikTok video of a passenger grinding beans and pulling a fresh espresso shot in economy has people furious and fascinated in equal measure. Is a full barista setup at your seat a clever way around terrible airline coffee — or just another way to be the most annoying person on the plane?
Critics argue that America has adopted the bland sameness of an airport lounge, a prestige-lite world gated by credit cards and tap-to-pay access. But what they’re really reacting to isn’t cultural flattening—it’s the loss of exclusivity as more people move up and gain access to spaces that once signaled status.
I got my card when the offer was just 80,000 points and I was super happy with that. I only wish I’d waited until right now to apply, because the limited time launch offer for the card has actually been improved upon.
A rant about deplaning etiquette has gone viral, laying down what she calls the “one rule” when a flight arrives: you wait your turn and don’t rush the aisle. In her view, anyone who pushes forward past rows in front of them is “human dirt” who deserves the side-eye of the entire cabin. It taps straight into one of the most bitter fights in air travel today: is it row-by-row courtesy, or every passenger for themselves?
Her spouse fell “madly in love” with Executive Platinum status and out of love with their marriage — so she put the legal bills on an AAdvantage card and walked away with elite status of her own. Plus: TSA’s new “proper papers” fee, Chase lounge diners sneaking in McDonald’s, musical Southwest flights, and an IHG points program devaluation.
Lufthansa tried to crack down on a HON Circle member for “throwaway ticketing” after a flight attendant ratted him out, demanding €414 for a skipped segment. Instead, the case wound up in court, the airline lost, and Lufthansa has now rewritten its rules to allow skiplagging when plans change.
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.
British Airways once promised “To Fly, To Serve.” Now they are surveying customers on which perks to give up next, from meals and bottled water to pajamas and amenity kits, and dressing it up as environmental responsibility. It is the latest step in a long march from “world’s favourite airline” to asking passengers to help do the cost cutting.
Turn a $95 annual fee into 100,000 points you can redeem across Star Alliance, Emirates, Etihad, Oman Air, and more airlines than any other program.
A reader spotted the Hyatt Place Phoenix Mesa rolling out housekeeping carts stocked with bulk toiletries poured into plastic condiment bottles — with a toilet brush sitting right next to the clean towels. It’s the latest in a string of Hyatts where the branding on the bottles doesn’t match what’s supposed to be used
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 »
