Rakuten now lets you earn Bilt points instead of cash back — and for six months, every $1 of Rakuten rewards equals 100 Bilt points. That means everyday online shopping can now generate one of the most valuable points currencies in travel, especially when paired with Bilt’s frequent transfer bonuses.
Qatar Airways has begun charging for business class seat assignments on award tickets booked in “U” class. The new policy applies to Avios redemptions and upgrades made on or after November 3, with free seat selection reserved for oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites — or available to everyone starting at check-in.
Chase and Hyatt have renewed their partnership, adding new benefits for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. Starting in 2026, top spenders will earn Hyatt Explorist status, more Hyatt brands will join The Edit by Chase Travel, and cardholders will gain expanded credits for luxury hotel stays — a clear win for frequent travelers.
The FAA is ordering a 10% reduction in flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports as air traffic controllers continue to skip shifts during the government shutdown. Absences have hit up to 40% at some facilities, forcing nationwide flight reductions that could ripple across the entire system.
On my Austin–Chicago flight, I was thrilled to see a smoked salmon bagel platter on American’s breakfast menu — until it arrived. The bagel was cold, the onions and capers were missing, and instead of cream cheese, they’d served butter. “Bagel, butter, and lox” isn’t a combination I’ve ever encountered in half a century of travel. American seems determined to check the “meal served” box — even when it forgets the basics.
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.
Cathay Pacific is buying back the 9.57% stake in the Hong Kong-based carrier that’s owned by Qatar Airways for HK$6.97bn ($896 million, and about a 3.9% discount to the stock’s prior close).
When this woman uncovered her husband’s secret affair, she didn’t confront him immediately—she applied for and got a front desk job at his favorite hotel instead. The plan? Catch him red-handed, right at check-in.
Passengers on an American Airlines flight turned cruising altitude into a church service after one traveler pulled out a tambourine and started praising mid-air. The joyful worship session quickly filled the cabin — a reminder that sometimes, good news really does travel.
Bilt Card 2.0 is nearly here. The transition to Cardless brings three new versions — no-fee, $95, and $495 — all earning points on mortgage payments. Current members can choose their new card with no hard credit pull ahead of the February 7 rollout.
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 »
