Delta Discovers It’s Just Another Airline, Blames Rivals for Profit Drop

Jul 12 2024

Delta Air Lines is earning half the industry’s profit. They had a 13.6% operating margin and made $1.3 billion in the last quarter. That’s great – except that both figures are down year-over-year and the airline lowered its guidance for the third quarter as well. Their stock lost 8% of its value at the open on Thursday’s morning’s announcement, though it gained half of that back by the end of the trading day.

The airline’s spin is that there’s too much capacity, and the problem is other airlines, but the industry is correcting itself. In other words, the problem isn’t Delta, and going forward Delta won’t have a problem. I don’t think this actually makes sense.

Continue Reading »

Fiji Airways Dallas Flight, AAdvantage Miles and oneworld Membership Transform A Nation

Jul 11 2024

Fiji Airways will launch non-stop service from Dallas – Fort Worth to Nadi, Fiji. This route makes a ton of sense, with the carrier becoming a full member of oneworld and adopting American’s AAdvantage as its frequent flyer program. I would not be surprised to see them add Seattle, home to oneworld member Alaska Airlines, in the future as well.

Continue Reading »

Bilt Is Dropping Their Legacy Credit Card Portfolio, I Just Applied For A Wells Fargo Card And Got A Bonus

Jul 11 2024

I first got the Bilt Rewards Mastercard in November 2021. When the program launched they were with another bank, and launched with Wells Fargo in March 2022. Wells didn’t buy the back book. I suspect the lack of revolve by cardmembers – early adopters like me aren’t a super profitable bunch! – led to this decision.

So there have been Bilt credit cards from two different issuers, although all new cards over the past 27 months have been Wells Fargo cards.

Continue Reading »