Southwest Airlines Hired A United Veteran As New Loyalty Chief — Rapid Rewards May Not Look The Same For Long
Southwest Airlines appointed Nandika Suri, a former United MileagePlus executive, as vice‑president of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. Suri spent 17 years at United, launching the revenue‑based Premier elite tier and overseeing the United‑Continental integration, before leading Choice Hotels’ Choice Privileges. Her mandate is to make Rapid Rewards more data‑driven, experiential, and to grow membership and partner relationships. The move comes as Southwest grapples with declining award redemptions and a shrinking points liability.
Chase Cut Sapphire Reserve Rewards For Airbnb And Expedia — Now Adds Plum Guide To Chase Travel
Chase revamped the Sapphire Reserve rewards, eliminating the 3‑point‑per‑dollar rate on generic travel purchases and boosting earnings to 8 points per dollar when bookings are made through Chase Travel. The change targets spend that previously flowed to rivals like Expedia...
American Airlines Says Turnstiles Will Improve Boarding — They May Just Make Flying Worse
American Airlines announced the installation of electronic turnstile boarding gates at its new C concourse expansion pier in Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport, following a pilot program in November 2025. The airline says the e‑gates will automatically validate boarding passes, display...
Airports Won’t Let Prices Rise — So They Tell Vendors To Add Surcharges
Airports are prohibiting concessionaires from raising menu prices directly and are instead encouraging the addition of a 3‑5% surcharge billed as an employee benefit or retention fee. The practice stems from high airport rents, mandated higher minimum wages, and “street‑pricing”...
United’s Cheapest Business Fares Even Worse Than First Reported — No Flight Credit, And For Many Travelers No Miles
United Airlines has introduced a stripped‑down "Basic Business" fare that removes Polaris lounge access, seat selection, and ticket changes. The fare also eliminates mileage accrual for passengers without a MileagePlus credit card, and it no longer counts toward elite‑status flight...
United 777 Makes A Jaw-Dropping Low Approach Over A Newark Highway
A dash‑cam video captured a United Airlines Boeing 777 executing an unusually low approach over the I‑78/US 1‑9 highway before landing on Newark Liberty's short Runway 29. The aircraft appeared to be only 70‑80 feet above the road, a maneuver made possible by the...
Rumor: Southwest To Ban Carry-On Bags On Its Cheapest Tickets
Southwest Airlines is reportedly evaluating a policy that would bar passengers on its lowest‑fare tickets from bringing carry‑on bags onto the aircraft. The move would force those travelers to check their roll‑aboards, generating additional bag‑fee revenue and potentially speeding up...
United Airlines Maintenance Hung Out The Cockpit Window With A Coat Hanger — They Had To Swap The Jet
United Airlines maintenance staff were filmed using a coat hanger to nudge a small angle‑of‑attack vane on a Boeing 737’s cockpit window during a Newark‑Austin flight. The improvised fix caused a 2.5‑hour delay while the aircraft was swapped for another. The...
Best-Ever 200,000-Point IHG Business Card Bonus
Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card now offers a record‑breaking 200,000‑point sign‑up bonus. Cardholders earn 140,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first three months and an additional 60,000 points after $9,000 total spend in six months. The...
Flight Attendant Fired Over Onboard Lingerie Selfies — Then She Took The Airline To Court
China Southern terminated veteran chief flight attendant Guo after she posted lingerie selfies on WeChat during a delayed flight in October 2019. The airline cited misuse of work time and violation of online conduct rules, while Guo argued the post...
Passenger Touched A Flight Attendant’s Buttocks, Claimed China-Malaysia Relations Made It Okay
A Chinese passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight 318 was removed after patting a flight attendant’s buttocks, claiming the gesture was harmless because China‑Malaysia relations are friendly. The Airbus A330 departed Kuala Lumpur for Beijing Daxing 1 hour and 16 minutes...
Frontier Pilot Slams On The Brakes After Two Trucks Cut Off His Plane At LAX: “Closest I’ve Ever Seen”
Frontier Airlines Flight 3216, an Airbus A321neo carrying 217 passengers, was forced to slam on its brakes after two service trucks entered its taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport. The pilot reported the near‑miss to air traffic control, noting it was the...
Don’t Miss The Chase 100,000 Point Ink Business Preferred Bonus
Chase has re‑launched the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card with a 100,000‑point sign‑up bonus after $8,000 of spend in the first three months. The card delivers 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and social‑media ad...
Delta And JetBlue Quietly Started Charging To Check Bags Curbside At Some Airports — $3.50 For What Used To Be...
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have begun charging a $3.50 fee for curbside baggage check at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, joining American and Southwest in a model that outsources the service to Bags, Inc. The arrangement replaces airline staff with lower‑paid...
Passenger Boarded A Flight Only To Learn Their Seat 27E Didn’t Exist
A passenger on a Lisbon flight discovered that seat 27E on their boarding pass did not exist after the airline swapped the aircraft at the last minute. The original six‑abreast plane was replaced by a four‑abreast regional jet, but the...
Software Company Flew 120 Employees To Honduras For A Survivor-Style Retreat — It Turned Into A Fyre Festival
Plex, a software firm, flew 120 remote employees to Honduras in 2017 for a week‑long, Survivor‑style retreat that cost roughly $500,000. The event unraveled before arrival: the hotel’s general manager quit weeks earlier, the head chef left days before, and...
![Marriott Lets Westin LAX Charge A $20 Cash Fee To Redeem Your Points [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/4b1c3fe3ab4d2843fb53396d05e42e73.webp)
Marriott Lets Westin LAX Charge A $20 Cash Fee To Redeem Your Points [Roundup]
Marriott has allowed the Westin Los Angeles airport hotel to impose a $20 cash co‑pay on Bonvoy point redemptions, sparking criticism of destination fees in the hotel industry. Unlike Hilton and Hyatt, which forbid extra charges on free‑night awards, Marriott’s policy...
Rove Miles Adds Virgin Atlantic And Virgin Red As 1:1 Transfer Partners
Rove Miles has announced Virgin Atlantic and its retail arm Virgin Red as new 1:1 transfer partners, joining its existing roster across Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam and non‑alliance carriers. The addition strengthens Rove’s SkyTeam connections and gives members access to...
Delta Pilots Earn Up To $465.13 An Hour — They Want A Fast New Deal Before The Window Closes
Delta Air Lines and the ALPA pilots union have opened negotiations for a new contract ahead of the December 31, 2026 amendable date. The union’s opening proposal focuses on higher pay rates, improved layover hotels, expanded personal‑travel non‑revenue opportunities, and greater schedule...
White House Budget Bans COVID Air Travel Mask Mandates — Four Years After They Already Ended
The White House’s FY2027 budget proposal for the Department of Transportation includes a provision that bars any federal funds from being used to enforce COVID‑19 mask mandates on aircraft. The federal mask requirement, which was struck down by a judge...
![Using A VPN Could Subject You To Government Surveillance, Senators Warn [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/39247618a8a8ee27b3202d48d0cd6919.webp)
Using A VPN Could Subject You To Government Surveillance, Senators Warn [Roundup]
U.S. senators have cautioned that using commercial VPNs, many of which are foreign‑owned, could inadvertently waive privacy protections and expose Americans to government surveillance. The Department of Homeland Security notes billions are spent each year on such services, highlighting potential...
Pilot Flew A Jet With A Taped-On Tail Number — Then Ignored An FAA Warning And Lost His License For...
A private pilot flew a Cessna Citation 550 with a taped‑on tail number after the FAA warned the aircraft was displaying the wrong registration and lacked a matching airworthiness certificate. The pilot ignored the condition notice and returned to Texas, prompting...
Toys On The Floor, Shoes Off, Blankets Everywhere — Delta Sky Clubs Are Not Playrooms
A family in Delta’s Seattle Sky Club turned a four‑seat area into a makeshift play zone, removing shoes, spreading toys and blankets across the carpet. While Delta’s house rules require attire and behavior that maintain a dignified atmosphere, the incident...
Delta Accused Of Kicking Muslim Family Off Flight — International Treaty Means They Never Get Their Day In Court
A Maryland appeals court ruled that the 1999 Montreal Convention, which governs international airline liability, bars damages for wrongful deplaning when no physical injury or death occurs. Delta argued the Rome‑Atlanta‑Baltimore itinerary fell under the treaty, and the court agreed,...
Delta Adds New York Times To Seatback Screens — ‘Free Access’ Is Really A Subscription Pitch
Delta Air Lines has partnered with The New York Times to provide SkyMiles members aged 18 and older with free, all‑access NYT content through its seat‑back entertainment system, Delta Sync. The offer grants up to 24‑hour access and can be used up to...
Passengers Keep Stealing From Carry-On Bags On Hong Kong Flights — But Cabin Cameras Still Aren’t Standard
A passenger on a Hong Kong Express flight from Phu Quoc to Hong Kong caught a thief rummaging through carry‑on bags, prompting police to intervene after cash was discovered missing. Airline data reveal more than 15 theft incidents per month...
Southwest Quietly Expanded Its Privacy Policy — Now Customers Fear Dynamic Pricing And Biometric Tracking
Southwest Airlines announced an update to its privacy policy, expanding data collection permissions. The revised terms allow the airline to gather session replay, mouse movements, Wi‑Fi usage, location data, and even audio/video at airports. Analysts fear these capabilities could enable...
Delta One Lounge At JFK Makes Guests Check Bags Before Dinner — Then Asks Them To Tip In SkyMiles
Delta’s flagship Delta One lounge at JFK has introduced a new “no‑bags‑allowed” rule in its dining room, requiring guests to check luggage before entering. The airline also rolled out a digital tip prompt that lets passengers tip staff with SkyMiles,...
Air India Will Start Weighing Flight Attendants — Overweight Crew Will Be Pulled From Flights Without Pay
Air India will enforce a new Cabin‑Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy starting May 1, requiring flight attendants to maintain a BMI between 18 and 24.9, with conditional allowances up to 29.9. Crew members with a BMI of 30 or higher...
This Tiny Amex Lounge In Fort Lauderdale Had A 150-Person Wait List — Travelers Will Queue For Anything Labeled Premium
A tiny 5,400‑square‑foot Escape Lounge at Fort Lauderdale’s Terminal 3 has attracted a waitlist of over 150 travelers, despite its modest amenities. The lounge, co‑branded with American Express, does not honor complimentary entry for Platinum cardholders and instead charges $45 per...
Yikes: Delta Regional Jet Was Landing At LaGuardia — The Wrong Controller Asks, “Where Are You?”
On March 15, Delta Connection flight 5752, operated by Republic Airways, mistakenly tuned to JFK Tower’s 119.1 MHz instead of LaGuardia Tower’s 118.7 MHz while on final approach to LaGuardia. The crew received a landing clearance from JFK before realizing the error,...
Passengers Say Delta Regional Flight Was Held For CEO’s Daughter — And She Was Given Someone Else’s First Class Seat
Delta flight 4279 from Salt Lake City to St. George was delayed 53 minutes after boarding while crew waited for a late‑arriving passenger identified as the daughter of SkyWest CEO Russell Childs. Passengers were asked to relinquish first‑class seats, and one...
Delta Had Empty First Class Seats — So The Gate Agent Held A Break Dance Contest
Delta Air Lines faced two empty first‑class seats at Salt Lake City, prompting a gate agent to stage a break‑dance contest for the upgrades. The airline now allocates only about 12 % of first‑class seats to complimentary upgrades, down from 81 %...
Lawsuit: Marriott Hotel Told Black Guest ‘You People’ Can’t Stay Here — Then Called Police
A federal civil‑rights lawsuit has been filed in Ohio alleging that a Black guest was denied a reservation at a TownePlace Suites‑Fairfield Inn, a Marriott‑branded property, after staff reportedly used the phrase “you people” and called police. The plaintiff, LeRon...
Even If You’re Just Transiting Hong Kong, Refusing To Unlock Your Devices Is Now A Crime
Hong Kong has amended its National Security Law, making it a criminal offense to refuse police access to passwords or decryption assistance for any personal electronic device. The rule applies to all individuals, including U.S. citizens, whether arriving or merely transiting...
American Airlines Is Serving $1 Shelf-Stable Pasta In First Class — While Selling A Premium Comeback
American Airlines is serving a $1 shelf‑stable three‑cheese pasta on its Salt Lake City‑Philadelphia First‑Class route, a meal that must be pre‑loaded due to the airline’s lack of local catering contracts. The pasta, originally priced at 99 rupees (about US$1.05), is...
American Express Is Opening A Previously Unreported Lounge In Shanghai — But Not Where You’d Expect
American Express is quietly adding a new lounge at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport’s domestic Terminal 2, a departure from its usual focus on international hubs. The lounge targets premium short‑haul business travelers, reflecting Amex’s strategy to deepen its presence in mainland China’s...
One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems
On March 13 the FAA halted flights at Washington National, Dulles, Baltimore, Andrews and Richmond for about two and a half hours after a strong chemical odor forced the evacuation of the Potomac TRACON. The smell originated from an overheating circuit...
![United Airlines Accidentally Emailed Every Flight Attendant That They Were Moving To London [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/ef139ab83479d2a58471a8e6f378a48d.webp)
United Airlines Accidentally Emailed Every Flight Attendant That They Were Moving To London [Roundup]
United Airlines mistakenly emailed every flight attendant a notice that they were being transferred to London, sparking internal confusion. The error highlights the airline’s reliance on mass communications without adequate safeguards. In related travel industry news, American Airlines will equip...
Rove Miles May Have The Best Hotel Trick In Points — Burn Miles, Earn Hotel Points And Elite Credit
Rove Miles offers top‑tier earn rates for travel bookings and online shopping, crediting points instantly for prepaid hotel reservations. The program also awards hotel loyalty points and elite status credit when users book hotels through its platform, effectively turning a...
Citibank Is Slashing Points Transfers To Two Partners April 19 — One Drops 25%, The Other 50%
Citibank announced that, effective April 19 2026, its Premium ThankYou Rewards cards will transfer points to Choice Privileges at a 25 percent reduced rate and to Preferred Hotels I Prefer at a 50 percent reduced rate. The former moves from 1,000 ThankYou points for 2,000 Choice points to 1,500,...
Lufthansa Is Testing Dirtier Coach Cabins — While Business Class Still Gets Cleaned Between Flights
Lufthansa is piloting a reduced‑cleaning regimen for economy cabins on 20 short‑haul routes, while business class continues to be cleaned between flights. The test, running through March 29, limits lavatory cleaning to passenger requests and removes seat‑back trash only when necessary,...
Air India Made Passengers Endure A 14-Hour Flight To Nowhere — It Sent An Ex-Delta Plane Without Enough Oxygen For...
Air India’s Delhi‑Vancouver flight 185 turned back after seven hours when the airline discovered it had dispatched an ex‑Delta Boeing 777‑200LR lacking the mandatory emergency‑oxygen system for high‑terrain routes. The aircraft, registered VT‑AEI, was part of a leased sub‑fleet not approved...
U.S. and Canadian Fighter Jets Scrambled After Passenger Stole Frequent Flyer Miles And Flew Under Someone Else’s Identity
On March 18, 2026 NORAD scrambled Canadian CF‑18s and U.S. F‑16s to escort two international flights bound for Montreal after authorities discovered a passenger had used stolen Aeroplan miles and a false identity. The incident, involving a man who was already listed...
This Dad Is A Vacation Hero — Sprinting For Pool Chairs So His Family Can Actually Relax
A growing number of resort guests are sprinting for pool chairs, turning a simple leisure activity into a competitive sport. High‑priced hotels often provide insufficient loungers, forcing families to arrive before dawn or even sleep on chairs to secure a...
United CEO Scott Kirby Says Buying JetBlue Is Up To Them — As Government Travel Falls 50%
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told investors that government travel is down roughly 50%, eroding about 4‑5% of the carrier’s revenue. United is responding by retiring 21 aircraft early, cutting redeye flights and shifting its yield‑management system to fill seats...
![United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/fa1b25c07b53d3ff28298596c7fdf3f9.webp)
United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]
United Airlines flight attendants have not received a wage increase in 5.5 years, with only a 2% bump in 2020, while union dues are set to rise. The American Flight Attendants (AFA) union reports that 91% of its members feel...
American Airlines Flight Attendant Spots a Phone Pointed at a Woman — Makes a Smart Safety Check in a ‘Couldn’t...
A video from an American Airlines flight shows a flight attendant noticing a passenger’s phone aimed at a woman’s back. She promptly asked if the two were traveling together and, after confirmation, eased the situation with a light comment about...
Hyatt Business Card Hits A Record 80,000 Points — The Fastest Way To Spend Toward Status
Hyatt’s World of Hyatt Business Credit Card now offers a record‑breaking 80,000 bonus points after $10,000 of spending in the first three months, up from the prior 60,000‑point offer tied to a $5,000 spend. The card accelerates elite night credits,...
United Airlines Sued After 4-Year-Old Is Burned By 200-Degree Tea — But Airline Liability Is Capped
United Airlines faces a lawsuit after a four‑year‑old was scalded by 200‑degree tea on a Newark‑Tel Aviv flight. The plaintiff relies on the Montreal Convention, which obliges carriers to compensate for onboard injuries but caps damages at about $216,000. The dispute...