One Mile at a Time
Wild: United CEO Scott Kirby Approached Delta About A Merger, But Was Rejected
A few months ago we learned how United CEO Scott Kirby had reportedly approached American CEO Robert Isom about the concept of a merger. American ”rejected” this for obvious reasons, arguing there was no way this would get regulatory approval. Nonetheless, Kirby made his case publicly about how this would...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Fiji Airways Airbus A330-200 taxiing at Singapore Changi Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a Fiji Airways Airbus A330-200 taxiing at Singapore Changi Airport as it prepares to commence its journey back to Nadi International Airport in Fiji. Fiji Airways operates a fleet of three Airbus A330-200 aircraft....
Frequent Miler
Hotel review: Glasgow Marriott, Scotland
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were meant to be going to Birmingham, England for an extended weekend away for a friend’s birthday, but those plans fell through. Around that time, we learned that a friend from New York was over here in the UK for work...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
New Bridge Between the United States and Canada Opens To the Public Tomorrow
Here is some news that you would not read about every day: a new bridge between the United States and Canada is scheduled to open to the public as early as noon tomorrow, Monday, July 27, 2026.
The new bridge is officially called...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Revealed: CEO of United Airlines Floated Idea of Merger With Delta Air Lines, But Rival Carrier Rebuffed Idea
Scott Kirby, the chief executive of United Airlines, floated the idea of a merger with Delta Air Lines and even called the rival carrier’s CEO, Ed Bastian, to discuss the proposal, with the Atlanta-based airline carrying out early due diligence on the potential merger before ultimately ruling it out. The...
Frequent Miler
How do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? | Question of the Week Ep10 | 7-26-26
How do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? Follower Owen asked this question recently, saying: “On the podcast you guys often say that you rarely book flights with cash. I find that, especially when booking domestic flights, I often can’t get amazing value from my points (let’s...
Live and Let’s Fly
Scott Kirby Tried To Merge United With Delta In His Most Audacious Airline Deal Yet
Scott Kirby apparently did not stop with American Airlines. Before approaching American about a merger, the United Airlines CEO reportedly called Delta CEO Ed Bastian to explore combining the two most valuable U.S. airlines. Delta considered the idea, but the talks went nowhere. That outcome was probably inevitable, but Kirby’s...
View from the Wing
United CEO Scott Kirby Pitched Delta On A Merger — One Airline Would Control 35% Of The U.S. Market
United CEO Scott Kirby reportedly pitched Delta CEO Ed Bastian on a merger that would have created an airline controlling roughly 35% of the U.S. domestic market. The idea went nowhere, and it is hard to see how it could survive antitrust review when the combined carrier would face objections...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Officially Named UNESCO World Heritage Site
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been officially inscribed as one of the newest United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — which is more popularly known as UNESCO — World Heritage Sites as a natural property effective as of yesterday, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Much of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Disgraced Former Qantas Boss Alan Joyce Breaks Cover… He’s Trying to Flog His Memoir
The disgraced former chief executive of Australian flag carrier Qantas, Alan Joyce, has broken his silence to defend his leadership of the airline, nearly three years after he was forced to resign by the board of directors due to a litany of mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following his...
View from the Wing
Marriott Bonvoy Free Nights Can Cost Nearly $200 In Resort Fees — This Contradiction Is Cracking Hotel Loyalty Wide Open
Marriott Bonvoy free night awards are increasingly not free at all, with some hotels adding resort fees of nearly $200 per night even on points stays. That exposes the core conflict in hotel loyalty: chains promise value to guests while trying to lower costs for hotel owners, and eventually that...
Frequent Miler
Fee-free Visa Gift Cards in-store at Staples
Staples is again offering fee-free fixed $200 Visa Gift Cards, through Saturday, August 1, 2026. The limit is nine per customer per day in-store, although some stores may allow more. Different stores appear to have different policies regarding the variable-load cards that some Staples now sell. Some folks report that...
Economy Class & Beyond
London Charing Cross and Waterloo East to close for 22 days for Engineering Work
For those of you in the South East of England, there are some major changes to travel as Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations close for part of the summer for engineering works during the next 22 days. This impacts train services operated by Southeastern, with no trains serving either Waterloo East...
The Points of Life
Ryan Air Madrid to Mallorca: Why Not?
For weeks, I tried to find a points flight from Madrid to Mallorca. Air Europa showed no availability. Iberia only had flights with connections. In the end, I paid $150 to fly Ryan Air direct. For such a short flight, I have no complaints. I paid for carry on bag...
Frequent Miler
Staples.com is selling $200 digital Visa gift cards with no purchase fee
Staples is once again waiving purchase fees for digital Visa gift cards sold online. This type of deal is always popular, so you’ll want to buy ASAP if you’re interested. The Deal Buy $200 virtual Visa gift cards with no purchase fee at Staples.com. Direct link to offer. Key Terms...
