Southwest’s new debit card lets members earn Rapid Rewards points — and even Companion Pass credit — on everyday spending. But the real story is what it signals: a new wave of debit-based loyalty products that could upend how travel rewards work.
American Airlines once promised to be “Something Special in the Air.” They lost that spark as managment misjudged every industry trend over the last 12 years. Now, as the airline talks premium, the real question is whether it can rediscover what made it great in the first place. Does this team of executives know what it takes?
American Airlines is shutting down its customer service counters at its Washington National airport hub. They only plan to open it during major irregular operations events, with passengers expected to use their mobile app or phnfor rebooking assistance instead.
She rented the car from Enterprise, drove it for a week, and only then spotted the loaded gun under her 9-year-old’s seat — after already finding an ax beneath the driver’s. It turns out this isn’t even unusual.
A United Airlines flight attendant is suing the carrier after learning her pilot boyfriend secretly shared intimate photos of her online, alleging United ignored warning signs and failed to protect employees from repeated misconduct within its ranks.
Today it was no coincidence that the CEOs of Delta, American and United all took the same public position on the government shutdown – that it needs to be resolved in exactly the way that the political leaders who regulate them says it does.
In an awkward CNN interview, Delta’s Ed Bastian struggled to justify partnering with a state-funded Saudi airline after years attacking Gulf subsidies — a verbal pretzel that shows how far Delta’s principles have bent.
Southwest Airlines refused San Antonio Airport’s new lease agreement, kept sending rent checks at old rates, and lost in court. Now, the airport won’t cash their checks, stripped Southwest’s branding from gates and counters, and is demanding $20 million. Could this battle risk the city’s air service?
After years of relentless devaluations, United Airlines has quietly reversed course by cutting MileagePlus business class award prices—sparking fresh hope they might finally be ready to compete for customers again. But can travelers trust United’s latest pivot, or is it just another fleeting promise?
A leaked internal employee briefing, obtained exclusively by View From The Wing, shows how American Airlines leaders are mapping out the carrier’s fight to turn the business around — from new routes and retrofitted cabins to a renewed premium focus.
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 »
