Category Archives for General.
Delta hosted a fundraiser for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s son-in-law as he runs for Congress—a move with painfully obvious “regulator optics.” Also: Visa’s swipe-fee messaging, a jaw-dropping St. Barts approach video, Southwest’s new boarding turning passengers into baggage handlers and more.
American’s new color-coded banners are supposed to make irregular ops easier to understand—red for canceled, green for self-service rebooking. But after back-to-back cancellations on my trip, both the app and website stayed stubbornly “green” while the flight that would actually get me to my destination was canceled. Weather isn’t the airline’s fault; confusing customers with a UI that won’t turn red is.
United told pilots it expects delivery of its first 787-9 with the new Polaris Studio in February, with entry into service in March. Also today: Starbucks is rolling out a revamped Rewards program in March that cuts earning, Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii credit cards are back and more.
Southwest’s new seat fees aren’t just changing over time — they’re changing by passenger, even when two travelers are looking at the same seat on the same flight. In one example, a Companion Pass flyer saw an exit row seat priced at $45 for them but $26 for their companion, and similar screenshots and reports are piling up across social media.
The Bilt Palladium card showed up before I can even use it — and yes, the mirror-finish metal is pure gimmick and still ridiculously fun. But the real reason I’m excited is the math: between Bilt Cash and Rent Day transfer bonuses, the earn rate can reach 7.4 partner points per dollar on everyday spend if you stack it the right way.
United is offering a paid “upgrade” to 1K status for $12,670—and marketing it as a discount. Also: an airport self-checkout tip screen that defaults to 18% while adding a card surcharge, American’s corporate-travel claims vs the revenue reality, why American still needs widebodies, disgusting cabin trash behavior, and a Delta One etiquette thread that’s hard to unsee.
Marco Rubio reportedly covers his head with a blanket on Air Force One so Trump won’t think his secretary of state is “weak” for sleeping on long trips. Also: Hyatt adds 22 Bahia Principe all-inclusives to World of Hyatt, Bilt begins fixing new-card denials and low credit lines, airline power outlets still fail travelers, and more.
Passengers on an American Airlines Hartford–Charlotte flight say they were seated on the plane when they heard “rushing water,” then watched a pipe burst and water start gushing from the back of the cabin, pooling down the aisle across multiple rows. The infuriating twist: they say American treated the cancellation as “weather-related,” meaning no hotel help—an ugly look in the middle of a storm week when the airline’s broader recovery has already been far rougher than its competitors.
Delta is now selling upgrades for as little as $19—less than a checked bag fee—which tells you exactly why elite “upgrade” status feels increasingly pointless. Also in today’s roundup: United first class drama, planes that look like they aren’t being cleaned, a ceiling collapse at an Embassy Suites, tipping fatigue, and American’s free Wi-Fi rollout.
Delta just sold a first-class seat for $37—which tells you everything about how little “upgrades” are worth when the airline can monetize the cabin instead. Also in today’s roundup: basic-economy behavior at its finest, a rare case where a hotel service charge actually pays out to staff, an “infinite money glitch” casino-chip joke, an ICE protest tactic targeting rental cars, and more American Airlines nonsense.
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 »
