Lights Out: American Airlines Flight Attendants Forced to Serve Meals In The Dark On London Flight—’They Just Sent The Plane...
American Airlines dispatched Flight 137 from London to Los Angeles on February 14 despite non‑functional galley lights, forcing flight attendants to improvise with flashlights to serve meals. The airline invoked Minimum Equipment List (MEL) procedures, prioritizing on‑time departure over immediate maintenance. Crew worked in near darkness, increasing the risk of spills, burns, and service errors. The incident underscores the tension between operational efficiency and passenger safety on long‑haul flights.
Earn Double Miles Aboard the New Airbus A350 Airplane With Emirates Airline
Emirates is offering double Skywards miles to passengers flying the new Airbus A350 on route EK70 between London Gatwick and Dubai. The promotion runs for journeys completed between 17 February and 18 March 2026, but travelers must book by 28 February 2026. It applies to any...
Frontier Launches Two Routes
Frontier Airlines has reinstated two nonstop routes from its Florida hubs, launching Miami → Chicago O’Hare with three weekly flights and Orlando → Pensacola with two weekly flights. The services, previously suspended in 2022, resume ahead of the spring‑break travel rush. Frontier’s vice president...
KLM Ends Dubai & Tel Aviv Flight Cancellation Guidance (Continue For How Long?)
KLM has stopped providing a timeline for fully restoring its Dubai and Tel Aviv services, continuing to operate only a reduced schedule that favors morning flights while cancelling most afternoon and evening rotations. The airline resumed full operations to Saudi...
IHG Iberostar 3-Day Up To 55% Off Flash Sale For Stays In the Americas March 1 – October 31, 2026...
IHG has launched a three‑day flash sale for Iberostar beach resorts across the Americas, with bookings open from February 16‑18, 2026 and stays eligible from March 1 to October 31, 2026. Discounts can reach up to 55 percent, varying by property and dates. The promotion covers...
Death Valley’s Hotels with a Past
In this episode of "Hotels with a Past," correspondent Kerry Sanders explores two iconic desert resorts—the historic Inn and the Ranch at Death Valley—highlighting their evolution from early 20th‑century rail‑linked retreats to modern luxury oases. Sanders details the architectural preservation...
Earn Triple Marriott Bonvoy Points With Homes & Villas in Greece
Marriott Bonvoy is offering triple points—15 points per dollar—for stays of three consecutive nights or more at participating Homes & Villas properties in Greece, valid through September 30, 2026. To qualify, reservations must be booked with a Marriott Bonvoy membership...
Stacking Promos: JetBlue Offering Buy One, Get One Free Flights on Flight + Cruise Bookings, Stack with Cardholder $100 Credit...
JetBlue is running a limited‑time BOGO promotion that makes the second base‑fare ticket free when customers book a flight‑plus‑cruise package through JetBlue Vacations by April 30, 2026, with travel required by December 31, 2026. A separate offer adds 10,000 bonus TrueBlue points for reservations...
Don’t Panic (yet): Reports Indicate that United Travel Bank May No Longer Trigger Airline Incidental Credits
United Travel Bank (UTB) has long been a workaround for credit‑card airline incidental credits, allowing travelers to deposit funds and receive fee reimbursements. Recent Reddit and Flyertalk posts suggest UTB stopped triggering these credits after February 5‑6 2026. Historically, similar reports have...
Booking.com De-Lists Two German Hilton Hotels For Ties To Iran Regime, Cancels Reservations
Booking.com has removed two Hilton properties in the Frankfurt region from its platform, cancelling several hundred existing reservations. The hotels – Hilton Frankfurt City Centre and Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch – are owned by the Mashali family, linked to Iranian banker...
Is Your Brand Scented?
The episode explores the booming scent‑marketing industry through conversations with Evin Ellis of ScentAir and Caroline Fabrigas of Scent Marketing, Inc., highlighting how brands translate core values into signature aromas for hotels, retail, and public spaces. It details the custom...
TSA Scolded Woman For ‘Inappropriate’ Hoodie — She Had Nothing On Underneath
A traveler was reprimanded by TSA for wearing a hoodie with no shirt underneath, prompting a pat‑down because the garment is considered a bulky item. The incident highlights the contrast between airline dress‑code enforcement and TSA’s limited authority over passenger...
That Other Stuff – The Citi Strata Elite Benefits We’re Using and Ignoring
The article reviews the Citi Strata Elite credit card, highlighting the benefits the author actually uses—6x weekend dining points, a $200 annual splurge credit, a $300 hotel credit, Admirals Club passes, and a partial Blacklane credit. It also lists perks...
IHG One Rewards Qualifying Rates & Booking Channel Changes + Reward Night Gifting
IHG has refined the terms of its One Rewards program, clarifying which travel agents qualify as authorized partners and outlining the rate categories that earn points. Qualifying stays now include bookings made through directly contracted agents, the IHG website, app,...
Rewriting History: Chicago Makes Navy Pier the New Starting Point of Historic Route 66
Chicago’s City Council approved a resolution moving the official starting point of historic U.S. Route 66 to Navy Pier. The dedication ceremony is set for March 25, 2026, and a new Route 66 sign will be installed at the waterfront attraction. The shift...
KLM Flight Cancellation Bonanza Due To Winter Weather On February 15, 2026
KLM cancelled more than 150 flights on February 15, 2026 after heavy snowfall reduced landing capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol, with short‑haul services bearing the brunt while most long‑haul flights remained on schedule but with fewer passengers. The airline announced rebooking...
Sri Lanka Launches Easy Digital Nomad Visa With Low Income Requirements
Sri Lanka has introduced a Digital Nomad Visa aimed at remote workers, with a low income threshold of $2,000 per month (plus $500 per dependent). The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed indefinitely, provided applicants maintain...
Vietnam Airlines to Introduce Amsterdam Service
Vietnam Airlines announced a new nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, launching on June 16, 2026. The route will run three times weekly—Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday—using an Airbus A350‑900. It links two SkyTeam hubs directly, eliminating the current need to...
United Airlines Opens Once in a Decade Opportunity For Flight Attendants To Move To ‘Dream Location’
United Airlines has announced that its London flight‑attendant base, the only overseas crew hub it still operates, will accept transfer applications for the first time in more than a decade. The opportunity is limited to senior attendants who have waited...
British Airways Is Now Letting Passengers Know If Wi-Fi Is Not On Their Flight… Why Did It Take So Long?
British Airways has begun sending proactive emails to passengers on long‑haul flights that lack in‑flight Wi‑Fi, giving a six‑hour heads‑up to download work or adjust schedules. The notice is purely informational and will not waive change‑fee penalties for switching to...
American Express Business Hilton Issue (140k Posting Instead Of 175k)
American Express’ Hilton Honors Business Credit Card is currently crediting only 140,000 points instead of the advertised 175,000 when the spend threshold is met through a referral link. The discrepancy appears on Hilton’s portal, even though Amex records the full...
American Adds Flights for Kentucky Derby
American Airlines announced a temporary surge in service to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet demand for the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The carrier will boost flights from its seven existing hub airports and launch special routes from 13 cities that normally lack...
Sean Duffy Orders Airlines to Halt DEI Pilot Hiring Or Face Enforcement Action
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed the FAA to issue an Operations Specification that bars U.S. airlines from using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria when hiring pilots. The order, framed as a merit‑based safety measure, applies to all Part 121...
Missed Out on World Cup Tickets? Chase Might Give You 5,000 Points
Chase opened an exclusive World Cup ticket sale for Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers on Feb 10, but the platform crashed, leaving many users stuck in queues. The glitch prompted a flood of complaints, and Chase began offering a consolation of...
Delta Rolls Out Airbus A321neo Aircraft With Massive 44-Seat First Class Cabin
Delta is temporarily configuring seven new Airbus A321neo aircraft with a 44‑seat First Class cabin, more than double the usual layout for this narrow‑body type. The expanded cabin will debut on high‑traffic Atlanta‑to‑West‑Coast routes beginning in June, with bookings opening...
(Update) Bilt 5x Points Welcome Promo Details
Bilt Rewards launched a 5x points welcome promotion for new cardholders, originally slated for February 7‑12, 2026, with a maximum of 50,000 points on $10,000 spend. Many users reported the bonus not crediting, prompting Bilt to email affected members to file...
Air Transat Will Drop All US Flights by June 2026
Air Transat announced it will cease all United States flights by June 2026, removing its remaining Quebec‑Florida routes. The carrier cites a weak demand environment, noting that US leisure traffic accounts for only about 1% of its capacity. The airline...
Miles and Points On Sale — February 13 2026
The Gate with Brian Cohen released its weekly roundup of miles‑and‑points sales for Friday, February 13 2026, highlighting discounts and bonus offers across 15 major loyalty programs. Hilton Honors and Wyndham Rewards each promise a 100 percent bonus, while Avianca LifeMiles tops out...
Delta Just Gave Employees $1.3 Billion in Bonuses Plus Announced Raises—While American and United Workers Get Left Behind
Delta Air Lines paid $1.3 billion in profit sharing, roughly 8.9 % of an employee’s salary, and announced a wage increase for its workforce. This marks the ninth year the carrier has exceeded $1 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, outpacing the combined totals of...
Hertz Status Match For Marriott Ambassador, Titanium & Platinum For 2026
Marriott Bonvoy’s top‑tier members can now claim elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards through a tier‑match program. Ambassador Elite members receive President’s Circle status, while Titanium Elite members are granted Five Star status, and Platinum Elite members gain a...
PREVIEW: ALL Accor+ Explorer With 2,000 Bonus Points February 17 – March 13, 2026
Accor+ Explorer relaunched with uniform pricing and a limited‑time offer for new members. From February 17 to March 13, 2026, sign‑ups receive 2,000 bonus points—equivalent to a €40 rebate—on top of the standard membership fee, which averages $229 but varies by country....
Nobu to Launch Hotel, Residences and Restaurant in the Maldives
Nobu Hospitality announced its inaugural Maldives project, a resort on Munyafushi Island in Laamu Atoll. The development includes 26 beach villas, 30 overwater villas, and a collection of ten Nobu Island Estate Residences sold as private‑island ownership. A standalone Nobu...
Chinese Government Puts Waldorf Astoria New York On The Market
China’s Dajia Insurance Group, the state‑owned holder of the Waldorf Astoria New York, has put the iconic 1,400‑room hotel on the market. The property was bought by the now‑defunct Anbang in 2014 for $1.95 billion and has since absorbed more than $2 billion...
Singapore Airlines 30% Off Spontaneous Escapes For Travel March 1 – 31, 2026 (Book February 28)
Singapore Airlines is offering KrisFlyer members a 30% mileage discount on its Spontaneous Escapes program for travel between March 1‑31, 2026. The promotion covers Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins on a wide range of routes across Southeast Asia, West Asia, Africa,...
British Airways Quietly Appoints New Head Of Customer Experience And Boy Does She Have Her Work Cut Out
British Airways has quietly installed former Lufthansa executive Victoria Schuster as its new Director of Customer Experience, succeeding Calum Laming who is set to depart. Schuster joins after a rapid rise at Lufthansa, most recently serving as VP of customer...
Emirates Is Being Thrown Out Of Algeria As Diplomatic Ties Between Algiers And Abu Dhabi Worsen
Algeria has begun the formal process of terminating its air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, effectively expelling Emirates from the market. The move follows a deterioration in diplomatic ties, driven by accusations that the UAE fuels regional discord...
How Boutique Hotels Personalize Without Getting Creepy
Boutique hotels aim for high‑tech, high‑touch experiences by using subtle personalization that feels intuitive rather than invasive. Intelity explains that automation should handle routine tasks while staff focus on human moments, supported by unified guest profiles. The article highlights preference‑based...
Why “Less Is More” In Hotel Sales Proposals (to Win More Business)
Meeting planners are inundated with proposals and now expect 80% of RFP responses within four days. Hotels that miss this speed often lose deals, making brevity a competitive edge. The article recommends front‑loading proposals with room blocks, rates, event dates,...
Why Revenue Management Is Not Enough For Complex Portfolios
Revenue management excels at optimizing rates for individual hotels, but as hotel groups expand, the property‑by‑property approach strains under portfolio complexity. Local pricing moves can cannibalize demand across nearby assets, while forecasts built on disparate assumptions fragment into incoherent aggregates....
This Premium Credit Card Benefit Came Through For Me. Again.
The author recounts a three‑week overseas trip that unraveled into a 22‑hour ordeal, ending with a rushed return to Atlanta. Using two premium credit cards, the traveler filed insurance claims to recover $1,253.27 in non‑refundable expenses, receiving partial reimbursement from...
Insane Hyatt Mattress Run Prices, Bilt in Real Life & Downgraded (Tiered) Southwest Offers?
The MTM Travel episode highlighted an eye‑popping Hyatt mattress rebate, introduced Bilt’s phased mobile checkout for dining and travel, and examined Southwest’s new tiered fare structure. Hosts also discussed the ongoing fight for overhead‑bin space on flights. The show underscored...
As Low as €24.00 or 4,000 Avios Per Flight With Vueling Airlines
Vueling Airlines is offering ultra‑low fares of €24 or 4,000 Avios per flight on select direct routes between March 1 2025 and June 21 2026. The promotion applies only to non‑stop Vueling‑operated flights, includes taxes and administration fees, and requires booking by February 15 2026, 7 PM...
Strategic Levers to Turn a Low Season Period Into an Opportunity
The article outlines how hotels can convert low‑season challenges into profit opportunities by leveraging data‑driven direct‑booking strategies, diversified product offerings, and flexible policies. It stresses the importance of analyzing occupancy, ADR and RevPAR to fine‑tune pricing and channel mix. The...
What to Do When Your Hotel Isn’t Pacing Like Last Year
Hotel revenue managers often panic when current pacing falls behind last year’s figures, but the article urges a measured response. It stresses that year‑over‑year pace should be a reference, not a rigid target, because market dynamics, events, and traveler behavior...
Are Revenue Managers Doomed in the Age of RMS and AI?
The article argues that AI‑driven revenue management systems (RMS) are automating routine pricing tasks, but they won’t replace revenue managers. While junior operational roles shrink as a single manager can now oversee 20 properties, the profession is shifting toward strategic,...
Flagship Capital One Landing at LaGuardia Airport Opening Next Week
Capital One announced that its flagship Capital One Landing lounge will open at LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The 12,500‑square‑foot venue, built with the José Andrés Group, is more than twice the size of the original DCA location and...
Lufthansa City Airlines Launches Frankfurt Base to Expand Short-Haul Network Across Europe
Lufthansa City Airlines opened a new operating base at Frankfurt Airport on February 9, launching initial flights to Berlin, Düsseldorf, Málaga, Manchester and Valencia. The carrier will add a second aircraft in March and plans to expand the Frankfurt network...
Marriott Hotels Are Secretly Selling Rooms Up To $450 Cheaper On Airbnb—And Corporate Can’t Seem To Stop Them
Travel writer Gary Leff reports that several Marriott properties are posting room rates on Airbnb up to $450 lower than on Marriott.com. The practice, which Marriott officially discourages, persists across multiple brands such as Moxy, Aloft, and Courtyard. Hotels use...
Spring Training Is the Travel Bargain of the Season
In this episode, Peter Greenberg highlights spring training as the season’s best travel bargain, comparing ticket prices at Arizona and Florida facilities to regular‑season costs. He details affordable package deals at Camelback Ranch, the Peoria Sportsplex, and the Astros‑Nationals flex...
SpaceX Adds Southwest Airlines as Starlink Customer
Southwest Airlines announced it will integrate SpaceX’s Starlink Ku‑band LEO satellite inflight connectivity across its Boeing 737 fleet. The first retrofitted aircraft are slated for revenue service this summer, with a target of 300 aircraft completed by the end of...