Syracuse airport officials approved a paid billboard from an employment law firm — then rejected it over one line about “harmless flirting.” The firm sued, the airport rewrote its advertising rules mid-case, and a federal judge still granted an injunction, calling the “misleading” rationale “nonsense.” The fight now is over a simple question: can a government airport pick which messages travelers get to see?
1,145 Passengers Are on Standby for Alaska Airlines’ Inaugural Rome Flight—Likely an All-Time Record
Jan
20
2026
Just days after 526 people were listed for Alaska Airlines’ inaugural Rome flight, the standby list has ballooned to 1,145—more than the aircraft can even carry. At this point it’s turning into a meme, with staff asking people to cancel unless they’re truly planning to show up, even as seats are still for sale at higher fares.
Exclusive: Air France-KLM Flying Blue Is the Next Card to Earn Rewards on Rent Through Bilt—A Shortcut to Status
Jan
20
2026
Air France–KLM’s Flying Blue card is poised to become the next airline credit card that can earn rewards on rent payments through Bilt, following the Alaska and United launches. That matters less for the miles than for what rent can do for qualifying spend: it’s predictable, high-volume monthly charge that can move you toward Flying Blue elite status without shifting spend away from other bonus categories. If this rolls out as expected, a rent payment alone could cover a meaningful share of the spending needed to trigger status-credit thresholds on the refreshed card.
American Airlines Shows Off Its “Free Hotel” Feature—Here’s Why You Should Book Your Own Instead
Jan
20
2026
American Airlines is touting a new app-and-website feature that can automatically book you a “free” hotel when an overnight delay strands you. The demo in its own promo is the perfect reminder of the catch: the airline room you’re offered is often the cheapest option available, not the one you’d choose to sleep in.
If you can front the cost, you can usually do better—using trip-delay coverage, distressed passenger rates, or points—without spending an hour in a voucher line.
American Airlines First Class Lavatory Was “Trashed”—They Handed Him Towels to Clean Up After Other Passengers
Jan
20
2026
An American Airlines passenger says the first class lavatory on a domestic Boeing 737 was so filthy—water, urine, and toilet paper everywhere—that it looked unusable after a line of coach families had been waiting to use it. When he asked the crew to address it, he says they told him it wasn’t their job and handed him towels to clean it himself.
$1,700 for First Class, Then a Box Lunch: American Airlines Still Serves Sandwiches in Shrink Wrap on Regional Flights [Roundup]
Jan
20
2026
$1,700 for first class and a box lunch with a shrink-wrapped sandwich is ridiculous. United takes heat for selling “first class” without seatback screens or even USB power, while Capital One lounge regulars at DFW say the food has improved again.
American Airlines New App Banners Tell You What’s Happening When Flights Go Bad
Jan
20
2026
American Airlines updated its app and aa.com trip-management page to make irregular-ops rebooking clearer. New color-coded banners tell you whether your flight is delayed or canceled, whether you can self-rebook, or whether American is already automatically reaccommodating you. The website also adds digital hotel and meal vouchers for eligible delays.
Delta Passenger Gets Drenched In Deicing Fluid — Flight Turns Back To Get It Off His Skin
Jan
20
2026
A Delta passenger got drenched in deicing fluid as the aircraft taxied out. The crew turned the plane back to the gate to get it off his skin, delaying the LaGuardia–Jacksonville flight by more than three hours. Here’s what the ATC audio reveals and how deicing fluid can end up inside a cabin.
American Airlines Is Selling Elite Status Again—Here’s What Upgrades and Perks Cost
Jan
19
2026
American Airlines has brought back its annual offer to let flyers pay cash (or redeem miles) to keep—or even buy up to—elite status for another year. The prices can be steep, from a few hundred dollars for the lowest tier to $2,000+ at the top, and there are often cheaper ways to qualify before the end of the current status year.
Singapore Airlines New First Class—It Should Debut From Los Angeles [Roundup]
Jan
19
2026
News and notes from around the interweb: Will Singapore Airlines new first class debut on New York or Los Angeles? L.A. is more likely with the latest schedule change. One of the most exciting aspects of Singapore Airlines’ new cabin product launches this year is a long-overdue brand new First Class cabin – originally destined for factory-fresh Boeing 777-9 aircraft some five years ago, but now making its debut on retrofitted Airbus A350 ULR aircraft instead, around a year from now. With the ULRs plying daily New York JFK, Newark and San Francisco routes on a year-round basis, it’s been logical to assume that one of those cities would be first in line to progressively see the new products from Q1 2027, but a change is in store. A schedule update taking effect from 1st…
