Airlines say flight attendants are there primarily for safety, not service. But in an American Airlines teen death case, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed crew confusion and delay during a cardiac arrest on an international flight, saying what matters is whether the FAA-required defibrillator actually worked.
Global Airlines promised a luxury Airbus A380 revival across the Atlantic. Instead, its one used A380 is parked in storage, the airline still lacks the licenses needed to operate scheduled service, and now one of its most credible backers — OnlyFans co-founder Tom Stokely — has left the board.
Drug gangs are switching baggage tags onto drug-filled suitcases, leaving innocent passengers to get arrested for smuggling when the bags are intercepted. Plus: American’s “duct tape class,” Houston’s Centurion Lounge expansion, and calls to split FAA’s regulator and air traffic control roles.
Hyatt told members they could still book free nights before the new award prices kicked in. Then, as members rushed to use points before the deadline, Hyatt’s website and app started failing — turning a devaluation into a rug pull.
Philippine Airlines has long had some of the best award availability across the Pacific, but U.S. travelers had few practical ways to book it. Now Qatar Airways Privilege Club can book Philippine Airlines awards online, opening a new path from U.S. transfer points to Manila and beyond — with reasonable taxes, useful availability, and pricing that is good to know before you transfer.
Passengers reportedly got off a flight in Philadelphia still fighting, and the argument did not end at the jet bridge. New video near gate E8 shows the brawl spilling into the terminal, with one woman on the ground, another lunging over her, and bystanders rushing in after the fight dragged more people into the chaos.
Southwest used to give everyone free bags and open seating. Now those perks increasingly belong to elites — and Southwest is letting rival airline elites match into top status, then potentially do it again year after year.
A popular Instagram account posing as an American Airlines flight attendant appears to be AI-generated. Plus: a Delta pilot saves the day, Chicago travelers admit Midway has advantages over O’Hare, JSX ramp workers face a union push, and a couple allegedly tried hiding live monkeys in their underwear at an airport.
New York City hotel housekeepers are set to earn more than $100,000 under a new union contract, with hotels still covering health benefits. That is great for workers — but it also changes the argument for tipping, especially in a city where union-backed rules have restricted hotel supply, raised room rates, and made guests pay more before they ever left after their stay.
Air France KLM’s Flying Blue credit card is now live for rent payments through Bilt, earning 3x miles on up to $50,000 in annual rent spend. The bigger play is not just buying miles at a 3% fee — it is turning rent into card spend that can help unlock Flying Blue elite status.
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 »
