Starting today, WiFi is free on most American Airlines flights for AAdvantage members, putting American alongside Delta and JetBlue while United and Alaska head toward free Starlink service. The catch is rollout: not every aircraft is enabled yet, widebodies come later, and customers paying for monthly or annual WiFi plans should watch for billing until American clarifies cancellations and refunds.
A guest says a spa massage at the Conrad Maldives left him needing neck surgery, costing more than $50,000 out of pocket, and that after submitting medical records and bills Hilton has gone silent for months—even as he describes the injury as life-altering and raises questions about what went wrong in the treatment.
DHS is accusing Hilton-branded hotels in the Minneapolis area of canceling government-rate reservations and refusing to house immigration personnel, citing a “no ICE” email from a Hampton Inn franchise while activist pressure like “No Sleep for ICE” protests provides a motive for the cnacels.
A United passenger on a flight to Orlando reportedly took off his pants as soon as he reached his economy seat, leaving fellow travelers wondering why no one intervened. United can refuse transport for passengers who are not properly clothed, but in the cramped, dirty reality of coach, comfort and basic decorum keep colliding.
Delta and Marriott have perfected the same loyalty trick: strip the meaningful upgrades, then convince customers they still got one—whether it is Comfort Plus instead of first class, or a fourth-floor room and a “you’ve been upgraded” packet.
Airline status buys convenience, not permission to steamroll people. A video shows a United Global Services passenger barking “let me go first!” as he pushes past a family with toddlers during preboarding—he doesn’t want to be the second passenger on board.
Delta Sky Club “premium” now means queuing outside a crowded lounge—so you are better off skipping the line and grabbing a table-with-an-outlet in the terminal.
Plus Eric Adams spotted late-night waiting for an Emirates Dubai flight with a single malt, an American first class seat that looks filthy, a United cabin confrontation caught on video, and JetBlue suspending Newark–LAX while aligning with United.
She got an Amex Platinum because she’d heard airport lounges were where you “network with rich people”—then walked into a room full of travelers eating, scrolling, and napping. Her verdict: “0 connections were made,” a neat reminder that credit-card lounge access isn’t exclusivity, and most people behind that door are just trying to kill time before boarding.
Bali’s governor is pushing a “quality tourism” plan that would require visitors to show three months of bank statements before being allowed to enter. There may be no fixed minimum balance—just officials judging whether your finances fit your itinerary—which is exactly why I wouldn’t visit if this becomes policy: it invites arbitrary enforcement and turns private financial data into a security risk.
There are a lot of things that are unpleasant as an airline passenger. One is how little legroom your ticket buys, though there are options to pay more money to get more space. There is a right way and a wrong way to take matters into your own hands if you’re frustrated by a reclining passenger.
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 »
