Delta built the strongest airline in America by being better than everyone else at the basics and then layering on a premium halo.
That halo still matters, but it is starting to outrun the product underneath it. United is improving faster, Delta’s operational edge is not what it was, and the airline that spent 20 years building the title now looks increasingly vulnerable to losing it.
Southwest credit cards now earn more points on Lyft rides, giving cardholders another easy way to pile up Rapid Rewards. What makes this better than it first sounds is that the rewards can stack: earn points from your Southwest card, credit the ride to another Lyft loyalty partner, and layer on other perks or rebates at the same time.
Passengers are still being caught going through other people’s carry-on bags on flights into Hong Kong, especially on short Southeast Asia routes, yet the obvious solution many travelers imagine — cameras watching the cabin — still is not standard airline practice.
One passenger at LAX check-in was so determined to avoid an overweight bag fee that he stood there and ate a dozen bananas out of his own luggage to get the suitcase under the limit. The stunt is ridiculous, but it also captures something real about modern air travel: checked bag fees are now so aggressive — and overweight penalties so steep — that travelers will reshuffle, rewear, and apparently even binge-eat their way out of paying them.
News and notes from around the interweb: Warning don’t use your SkyMiles Amex to pay for upgraded beverages at the Delta One lounge JFK it doesn’t code as a restaurant, and also sends a Resy solicitation for feedback but doesn’t code as a Resy restaurant either. I'd also note the restaurant doesn't code as such when using Amex. And, despite receiving a Resy solicitation for feedback, it doesn't code as Resy, either. So don't use your SkyMiles Amex card to pay. @xJonNYC — Jamie Baker (@baker_never_y) April 1, 2026 70% bonus on transferring Chase points to IHG One Rewards in April. This is a poor use of points. Don’t transfer points to IHG. An IHG point is worth about half a cent. They’ll often sell it for that, even. If you want to book IHG…
Citi brought back the best-ever welcome offer on its AAdvantage Business card: 75,000 American Airlines miles after $5,000 spend in 5 months, with the $99 annual fee waived for the first year. The headline bonus is great on its own, but the real edge for frequent American flyers is what the card unlocks inside AAdvantage Business—extra earning on tickets and, for many cardmembers, the ability to stack Loyalty Points in ways that can accelerate status.
A passenger was banned after vaping in an airplane lavatory triggered the smoke alarm and brought police to meet the flight on arrival, but the more interesting question is why e-cigarettes are treated the same as cigarettes in the first place.
One passenger in India is accused of a string of alarming incidents in March, including allegedly trying to open an emergency exit inflight, smoking near jet fuel on an airport ramp, and fighting with airline and airport staff. The episodes reportedly happened on separate flights just weeks apart, making this less a one-off outburst than a pattern of escalating aviation misconduct.
United Airlines is planning two of the worlds largest airport lounges in Houston and Washington Dulles while also laying groundwork for a return to New York JFK. An internal presentation makes clear these projects are not just about nicer terminals — they are part of a broader strategy to turn hub spending into faster growth, stronger loyalty, and higher profits.
Starlink is making inflight internet fast enough and reliable enough to support calls, conferencing, and anything else passengers want to do online at 35,000 feet. The old argument for blocking inflight calls is collapsing, and airlines should be free to let passengers decide — as long as people are considerate.
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 »
