United Replaces Top MileagePlus Leaders—Names Apple Card Veteran to Run Loyalty [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2026

Jan 15 2026

News and notes from around the interweb: MileagePlus members, be afraid. ($$) Veteran of Apple Card (all branding, very little consumer value) and… Delta. Richard Nunn, a former Comcast executive hired in May 2023 as CEO of the loyalty platform and to launch Kinective Media, is leaving. So is Luc Bondar, the vice president of loyalty, who has run MileagePlus day-to-day for nearly 10 years. United has made a splashy permanent hire to replace Nunn and Bondar, naming Jarad Fisher as its new vice president for loyalty and president of MileagePlus. Fisher helped build Apple’s credit card from 2015 to 2020, and earlier in his career, he worked in loyalty at Delta. I flew American Airlines on four different days in the eight days following their launch of free wifi, and I finally got an…

Ryanair CEO Slams Starlink WiFi Over a 2% Fuel Hit—Elon Musk Jumps In: “You’re Misinformed”

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2026

Jan 15 2026

Ryanair’s CEO says Starlink inflight WiFi would add a 2% fuel penalty from added weight and drag, making it too costly for the airline’s short flights. Elon Musk jumped in to say the CEO is “being misinformed,” arguing the incremental drag is effectively negligible—setting up a public spat over what Starlink connectivity really costs airlines to install and operate.

ICE to Patrol Jet Bridges at Minneapolis Airport for 3 Weeks, Airport Employee Says

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2026

Jan 15 2026

A Minneapolis airport employee says ICE agents will be “checking and verifying documents” for the next three weeks, including patrolling jet bridges at the gates. It’s a post-security choke point that makes it easy to intercept travelers right before boarding or immediately after landing—and it raises serious questions about how this overlaps with the right to travel, especially for citizens and lawful residents who can still get caught up in enforcement mistakes.

I Expected a Basic Room Near Miami Airport—Here’s How I Ended Up in the Presidential Suite

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2026

Jan 14 2026

I booked what I thought would be a simple one-night stay near Miami airport—then the front desk handed me keys to the Presidential Suite. Here’s how that happened, why this property has become my go-to for airport overnights (especially with kids), and what made this upgrade worth writing about.

Bilt Caps Credit Card Interest at 10% for a Year—Why a Bank Can Do It And Washington Can’t

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2026

Jan 14 2026

Bilt just announced it will cap interest on new purchases at 10% for the first year on its new credit cards—a savvy teaser rate that also echoes a much bigger political idea. It’s a tactic banks can afford in a narrow, time-limited way, but a nationwide 10% cap would shrink credit, jack up fees, and gut rewards.

Bilt Unveils 3 New Credit Cards: Unlimited Rent and Mortgage Points—Plus 4% Back in Bilt Cash

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2026

Jan 14 2026

Bilt has revealed three new credit cards replacing its Wells Fargo product, adding unlimited points on rent and mortgages and 4% back in Bilt Cash on all cards. They look genuinely strong—but the details (pricing tiers, credits, and how the new “free” rent/mortgage math works) take a minute to unpack.

Video Shows Eric Adams Cursing Out Passenger After American Airlines Flight—“I’m Not Mayor Anymore” [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2026

Jan 14 2026

Video of Eric Adams on an American Airlines flight is circulating after he’s seen cursing out another passenger and declaring, “I’m not mayor anymore.” Plus: Delta’s 787-10 order, Hilton boycott whiplash, a meh Hilton promo, and a woman accused of ordering a Lyft and stealing the car.

Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Guests Fly In — But Bar Soap Isn’t “Sustainable,” Paper Newspapers Are

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2026

Jan 14 2026

Sheraton Frankfurt Airport is steps from the terminal, where virtually every guest is flying in or out — yet the hotel says bar soap isn’t “sustainable,” even on request. In the same email, it offers to deliver printed newspapers, and its own photo gallery still shows bar soap in the bathroom.

American And Southwest Made Inflight Wi-Fi Free — Now A Patent Troll Sues For Royalties

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2026

Jan 13 2026

American and Southwest made inflight Wi-Fi free—then Intellectual Ventures sued, claiming the airlines owe royalties on the technology behind onboard internet. A judge has now ordered American to produce technical records and source code as the case accelerates.

Engine Problems Are Forcing United To Park Some Boeing 777s—And The Government Could Restrict Long Overwater Flights

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2026

Jan 13 2026

United is storing Pratt-powered Boeing 777s because engines and parts are scarce. More incidents could cause certification issues, with significant affects on United’s ability to fly long haul.

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 »