A Houston man allegedly got through TSA with a fake boarding pass, slipped past a distracted United gate agent, and boarded a full flight to Los Angeles without a ticket. He might have made it farther if every seat hadn’t already been taken.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card has a new limited-time offer that is unusually strong for a $95 hotel card: up to 125,000 points, a free night worth up to 50,000 points, and up to $100 back on airline purchases. It is a card worth getting for the bonus—and, because of the annual free night and elite night credits, one many travelers should keep.
Southwest Airlines passenger Carolina Rodriguez says an airline employee came up to her in the bathroom before she boarded her Oakland – San Diego flight and told her to cover herself because children would be on the plane. So she asks the internet, was her attire “too much?” Her sweatpants and low cut top were meant to be “comfy” and besides “where else am I gonna put my big girls?
Avelo’s CEO wants the Ryanair model pushed even further: not just low airport costs, and cities paying his airline to fly there — but future airport deals giving Avelo part ownership of the airport itself. That turns ordinary route incentives into public airports handing over a stake to a fragile private airline while taxpayers absorb the risk.
Most points advice assumes you’re saving for long haul business class awards. But if your travel is mostly domestic, the best credit card strategy looks very different: earn the most flexible points you can, carry airline cards for benefits rather than spending, and choose lounge access based on the airports you actually use.
Delta disclosed that it has 9 million American Express cardmembers. They also shared how many members participate in their Starbucks and Uber partnerships – and we can infer just how much spending is happening on their cards, and the balances that cardmembers are revolving.
Bankrupt Spirit Airlines is trying to turn its LaGuardia flight slots into $87 million, but the airport’s operator says the airline is trying to auction off rights that aren’t Spirit’s to sell. That sounds like a major problem—except FAA-approved slot sales are real, and LaGuardia still has to provide airport access on reasonable, non-discriminatory terms.
An American Airlines passenger says the woman seated behind him became erratic during descent, lunged over his seat, and slammed him into the cabin wall hard enough to knock off his glasses and possibly leave him unconscious. He is suing the alleged attacker directly, not American, while a related federal criminal case plays out first.
TSA has moved from “remove your laptop” to “remove your cat.” Before heading to the airport, check your suitcase for a feline stowaway. Plus Airbus a350 damaged during water cannon salute, Alaska award sale and points transfers, and draconion cancellation fees.
Three weeks ago I revealed that American Airlines had brought restaurant-style ordering of hot food items to its Flagship lounges. American has now announced this change – along with several others.
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 »
