Etihad Revamping Frequent Flyer Program In June

Feb 22 2024

New redemption pricing for Etihad awards, with ‘around 70% of routes seeing a decrease’. Elite status changes will include elimination of segments as a means of qualifying; a new top tier Diamond level that requires $150,000 in spend on top of qualifying miles; and new choice benefits for all elites.

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The Left And Right Make Equally Little Sense Opposing Capital One’s Acquisition Of Discover

Feb 21 2024

Josh Hawley calls it “destructive corporate consolidation at its starkest” and says it will “create a new juggernaut in the credit card market, with unprecedented powers to extort American consumers.” Unprecedented? American Express operates closed loop payments (card issuer and payments network) today, and Chase issues nearly as many cards as this combined business would.

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Southwest Airlines Passenger Single Mom Reported For Trafficking Her Four Year Old Son

Feb 21 2024

Southwest Airlines reported a single mom traveling with her 4 year old son for human trafficking. She makes the trip frequently to Cincinnati for the boy to visit his father. In fact, she has a Companion Pass and he’s registered to be her free travel companion.

On arrival in Cincinnati on this trip, though, she was met by police and questioned while trying to rent a car at the airport.

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American Airlines Bans Javelins, Pole Vaults, And Largest Luggage In New Checked Bag Restrictions

Feb 21 2024

American Airlines raised checked bag fees on Tuesday and now charges more for bags than United or Delta. They’re highlighting, though, that they reduced their fees for overweight and oversized bags.

What American didn’t tell everyone about the modest giveback is that you can no longer take bags that are as big or heavy as before – at any price – and that they’ve banned some items they previously used to allow as checked luggage. Aspiring Olympians beware!

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Portable Electronics Are Catching Fire On Planes: How Airlines Handle It When Your Phone Explodes

Feb 21 2024

A passenger’s power bank exploded on board a flight from Boracay in the Philippines to Shanghai, China. The cabin began filling with smoke. As a result, Royalair Philipines flight 602 made an emergency landing in Hong Kong on Monday.

Sometimes phones and other electronic devices catch fire – and this is actually something that airlines prepare for!

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$18,000 Ticket to Nowhere: United Airlines Pilot Grounds 1K Passenger for Foul Language

Feb 21 2024

A United Airlines pilot who flies Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft kicked a top MileagePlus elite passenger off of a cross country flight from Newark to San Francisco and shared the story to social media.

The captain had gone up to the gate for paperwork and overheard this ‘1K’ customer cursing at the gate agent prior to boarding at Newark airport.

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