Category Archives for Airlines.
Everyone can now standby on American Airlines for free. They’ll no longer be told to use the website or mobile app if asking an agent for help. The airline no longer actually forbids standing by within 45 minutes of departure, they just don’t guarantee it for most customers. And they’ll allow standing by to a co-terminal airport, too. These are all real improvements, and better than what American had announced.
As one customer explains, flying from Denver to Seattle, they ordered a beer and snacks – Frontier charges for both – and they’re “presented with tipping options on [the payment] screen with min tip option 18%.”
It’s not just legroom that’s going to be squeezed on Airbus A319 planes to fit in more seats. They nip and tuck everywhere on the aircraft.
I don’t fly Alaska Airlines often, maybe just a couple of trips per year. I’m much more active in their Mileage Plan program than with the airline. But every time I fly Alaska I’m struck by the quality of their food.
Chaos erupted aboard a Ryanair flight preparing to depart Palma de Mallorca Airport for Manchester early Saturday morning on July 5, after passengers panicked due to a false fire warning. At least 18 people were injured during the evacuation, with some passengers jumping onto the aircraft’s wing.
On July 1, 2025, Delta Air Lines flight 3247 — a Boeing 737‑900ER flying from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham —landed safely, unaware that a piece of the plane had come off. During the post-landing inspection, ground crew found a piece of the left wing trailing-edge flap missing.
Delta is planning for a premium-heavy Airbus A350-1000 widebody, with the first plane being delivered next year. These planes will feature a new Delta One Suite in business class, as well as new economy seats.
American has decided to reverse course on pajamas. There will also be mattress pads. And they won’t be taking away the slippers to pay for it.
A major wind stom in Las Vegas kept planes from landing on Tuesday. American’s Chicago to Las Vegas flight 2254 made an unusal diversion – to Bullhead City, Arizona, an airport that lacks commercial service.
Emirates is only marginally useful as a transfer partner. Their awards are expensive and they impose draconian fuel surcharges as well. You can also transfer to Qantas and redeem saver inventory at similar or better pricing in many cases.
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 »
