Who Really Issues the New Bilt Card? The Four-Company Stack Behind Bilt Card 2.0

by Gary Leff on January 23, 2026

Jan 23 2026

The new Bilt Card doesn’t work like a normal Chase or Amex product where one bank issues, services, funds, and owns the economics end-to-end. Bilt Card 2.0 is a split stack: Column is the bank and lender of record, Cardless runs servicing and the tech layer, Fidem (and its capital partners) fund receivables, and Bilt provides the rewards program—on Mastercard rails. Once you see the roles, the money flows (interchange, interest, and who gets paid for what) make a lot more sense.

This Marriott Only Offers Heat Or AC — If You Need The Other One, They Tell You To Open A Window [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2026

Jan 22 2026

This Marriott only runs heat or air conditioning at a time—if your room needs the other mode, the “solution” is to open a window. Also, Qantas is closing the Emirates First Class workaround, Ted Cruz spotted flying to the beach as Texas braces for ice, and more.

United Announced A Chicago “Line In The Sand” Meant To Prevent New Flights — American Just Added Routes Anyway

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2026

Jan 22 2026

United’s CEO Scott Kirby went out of his way on the earnings call to “draw a line in the sand” in Chicago—promising United will add flights to match any American expansion at O’Hare. The point of saying it publicly wasn’t bravado. It was deterrence: to signal to American (and to analysts) that new Chicago capacity will be met in kind, making growth less attractive for both airlines.

American’s response came fast anyway, announcing new routes from O’Hare—turning Kirby’s game-theory warning into an immediate test of whether this becomes a real fare war or a negotiation by headline.

United Adding More Widebody Planes Than Any US Airline Since 1988 — Here Is Who Did More

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2026

Jan 22 2026

United made a big claim in its latest earnings update: in 2026 it expects to take delivery of roughly 20 Boeing 787s—more widebody aircraft in a single year than any U.S. carrier has taken since 1988. The “since 1988” reference isn’t random; it points to one standout widebody delivery spree that still hasn’t been surpassed.

Delta Delay Cost Them Their Alaska Cruise — And A 19th-Century US Law Made It Impossible To Catch Up To The Ship

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2026

Jan 22 2026

A family’s Alaska cruise was effectively over before it began after a delayed Delta flight out of Detroit caused them to miss the only Minneapolis–Vancouver connection that could reach the ship on time.

Delta rebooked them to try to save the trip, but the replacement flight didn’t pan out, and once the cruise sailed there was no “meet it at the next stop” option, because a 19th-century U.S. maritime law prevents cruise ships from carrying passengers between U.S. ports.

NYC Mayor Says He Is Banning Hotel Junk Fees Everywhere, Not Just In The City — What The New Rule Really Does