JetBlue Founder David Neeleman Says He Uses a Delta SkyMiles Card — Even Though Cash Back Would Get Him More Travel [Roundup]

by Gary Leff

News and notes from around the interweb:

  • Dave Neeleman at Skift Aviation Forum: “I hava Delta SkyMiles card in my wallet, because I live in Salt Lake.” He explains he uses it to pay for family travel.

    He also smiled and refused to answer whether he uses his Delta or Breeze Airways credit card more – and he’s Founder, CEO and Chairman of Breeze.

    Oy. Even a basic no annual fee 2% cash back card would get him more travel on Delta! I have a lot of respect for what Neeleman has done in the industry, but one thing he hasn’t ever excelled at with any of his airlines is loyalty marketing…

  • There’s a reason why independent airport lounges are destined to be mid. p.s. is a niche product that only works in a few airports and won’t scale. Plaza Premium is trying with its ‘First’ product in a couple of places. But a startup will never even get the terminal space to build out at ‘the top 100 airports’ even if the economics could work. There’s a reason why Capital One’s network is still so small, and none of the banks have lounges at O’Hare (and won’t until the new Global Terminal comes online).

  • This looks to me like July 19, 2024, out of Denver…

  • Marriott gifts to Ambassador members can be so weird.

    Ambassador Gift
    byu/Bucs88 inmarriott

  • A Singapore Airlines complaint is going viral in Southeast Asia. A coach passenger flying London Heathrow to Singapore had indicated he wanted chicken but by the time the cart reached him only fish was left. He ate, says he got an upset stomach, and took to TikTok.

    Some argue that catering should be managed so rear rows still have choice, but others argue that’s just how airline catering works. You aren’t guaranteed your choice unless you’re in a position to pre-order or you’re sitting where first choice is given. There was also a lot of backlash, that coach passengers shouldn’t complain about food.

  • Qantas first class lounge private rooms are bookable even by partner airline elites with access to the lounge

  • I’m genuinely triggered.

  • Citi loses Aeromexicoas a transfer partner January 25, 2026. This is no big deal, as Aeromexico is trash except for occasional discount redemption deals on their own metal from specific cities. TikTok creators used to promote round the world awards with Aeromexico and I used to mock them because none had ever actually tried to book one in practice. Not only are awards expensive, but customer service is terrible.

  • FAA deputy administrator visits JSX, endorses their safety. This is such a far cry from when the FAA was being compromised by lobbyists from American Airlines, Southwest and ALPA and promising to put them out of business as a competitor.

About Gary Leff

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 »

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