Traveling For Miles
Deal: Alaska Airlines points on sale with a mystery bonus [Targeted]
Alaska Airlines is back with a new mileage sale in which it's offering select Mileage Plan members a mystery maximum bonus which varies from account to account. If all you see is a 90% bonus (as I do), it may be worth waiting to see if the next sale offers you...
Traveling For Miles
Save $350 on select Marriott Homes & Villas bookings [Targeted]
American Express has launched a new targeted offer for select Marriott Homes & Villas stays. The offer covers payments made through 30 September 2026 and because the spending needed to trigger the rebate doesn't have to be made in a single transaction, this rebate may be easier to earn than...
Economondo
What’s Lufthansa’s Short Haul Service Like in 2026: Manchester to Frankfurt on the A319
Sampling a Lufthansa Airbus A319 on a short flight from Manchester to Frankfurt
Economy Class & Beyond
SES to power LATAM’s Embraer E195-E2 inflight connectivity
As LATAM steps ever closer to operating its upcoming E195-E2 aircraft, SES confirms it was selected to provision the inflight connectivity solution. LATAM Embraer E195-E2 – Image, LATAM/SES SES will provide a e multi-orbit inflight connectivity service to its growing fleet of Airbus and Embraer aircraft. More than 60 Airbus (A320neo ...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Current Amex Offers
This post is designed to show current Amex Offers. If you have any Amex cards, even authorized user cards, then you’re eligible to sign up for offers when you log into your Amex account. If you’re planning to shop or book travel, check this page to see if an Amex...
One Mile at a Time
Southwest Will Start Boarding Most Flights Earlier, Checked Bag Fees To Blame
As of August 1, 2026, Southwest Airlines will start boarding most flights up to 35 minutes before departure, instead of up to 30 minutes before departure. Not surprisingly, checked bag fees are primarily to blame…
Traveling For Miles
Deal: Alaska Airlines points on sale with a mystery bonus [Targeted]
Alaska Airlines is back with a new mileage sale in which it's offering select Mileage Plan members a mystery maximum bonus which varies from account to account. If all you see is a 90% bonus (as I do), it may be worth waiting to see if the next sale offers you...
Live and Let’s Fly
Black Passenger Accuses British Airways Of Racial Profiling, But The Video Does Not Support His Claim
A pair of black passengers claim they were racially profiled aboard a British Airways flight after a flight attendant questioned whether they were supposed to be sitting in their assigned seats. I understand why the interaction felt uncomfortable, but the video offers very little evidence that race had anything to...
One Mile at a Time
Redeem American AAdvantage Miles On Oman Air (Finally), A Great Option!
In June 2025, Oman Air joined the oneworld alliance, which was an exciting addition. One of the big benefits of an airline joining an alliance is supposed to be the introduction of reciprocal award redemptions.
View from the Wing
Southwest’s Checked Bag Fees Mean Boarding Will Start 5 Minutes Earlier — And Could Cost $800 Million
Southwest will begin boarding Boeing 737-800 and MAX 8 aircraft five minutes earlier starting August 1, a change driven by fuller overhead bins after the airline began charging most passengers for checked bags. The hidden cost is operational: longer boarding erodes one of Southwest’s historic advantages, adds passenger hassle, and...
TravelUpdate
Do you know Philippine Airlines has a song?
One of the interesting things about trying new airlines are the little things that differentiate them from others.…
Pointshogger
The Pros and Cons of Road Trips
I have become quite intrigued with van life. Unfortunately van life is not in the cards for me, and I have to admit, I'm not sure I can tough it out. Road trips are the closest I would get to van life. I really enjoy the idea of packing essentials...
One Mile at a Time
Cathay Pacific’s New A330 Flat Bed Aria Studio Regional Business Class
In February 2026, Cathay Pacific formally unveiled its new regional business class product, which will be branded as the Aria Studio. This is intended to replace the carrier’s current regional product, which isn’t very competitive.
Eye of the Flyer
Air Force One’s Decades-Long Theft Problem, a 747 Sunk as an Underwater Theme Park, and More Travel News
Here are this week’s travel news headlines from around the web and interweb I found the most interesting. Take a look: Princess Cruises Just Launched a Standby Program — Balcony Cabins From $99 a Night if You Can Drop Everything If you live near Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Los Angeles,...
Traveling For Miles
Save $350 on select Marriott Homes & Villas bookings [Targeted]
American Express has launched a new targeted offer for select Marriott Homes & Villas stays. The offer covers payments made through 30 September 2026 and because the spending needed to trigger the rebate doesn't have to be made in a single transaction, this rebate may be easier to earn than...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
JetBlue Making Changes Door Arming Procedures Because Flight Attendants Keep ‘Blowing the Slides’
JetBlue is making changes to the announcements that pilots make to flight attendants before departure in an attempt to prevent crew members from accidentally activating the emergency slide following a reported marked increase in the number of ‘blown slides’ in recent months. The New York-based carrier is certainly not alone...
Frequent Miler
AwardHelper: An awesome tool for finding places to use premium credit card benefits
As someone who holds a number of ultra-premium travel-related credit cards, one of the things I find most tedious is needing to log in to multiple sites to search for qualifying properties where I can use any of my multitude of credits, whether for lodging, dining, or otherwise. Additionally, I...
One Mile at a Time
I Visited Riyadh Air’s Hafawa Lounge Riyadh: WOW, What A Stunner!
Hello from Saudi Arabia, as I continue my review trip. The main reason I came to Saudi Arabia is to try Riyadh Air, which is the most well funded and ambitious airline start that we’ve seen in a very long time (admittedly it helps to be owned by Saudi Arabia’s...
Live and Let’s Fly
Allegiant Is Adding First Class And Free Drinks, But I Want The Hot Meals Back!
Allegiant is moving upmarket (just like everyone else…). Beginning this weekend, every passenger will receive a complimentary nonalcoholic beverage, and next spring the airline will introduce a genuine first class cabin with wider seats, more legroom, and included baggage. Considering Allegiant now owns Sun Country, I cannot help but wonder...
View from the Wing
American AAdvantage Miles Can Now Book Oman Air — A New Business Class Path To India And The Mideast
American AAdvantage miles can now be redeemed for Oman Air flights, opening a useful new oneworld option for business class awards through Muscat. Oman Air is small, but its premium cabins are strong, award space can be useful, and this adds a valuable new route network for American miles.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Southwest Airlines Will Officially Board Planes Earlier in Response to Passengers Bringing More Hand Luggage On Board
Southwest Airlines will begin boarding many of its planes earlier than ever before as the Dallas-based carrier battles to cut down delays caused by the increasing amount of hand luggage that passengers are bringing on board with them. From August 1, flight attendants will be required to report to the...
Economondo
What’s Lufthansa’s Short Haul Service Like in 2026: Manchester to Frankfurt on the A319
Sampling a Lufthansa Airbus A319 on a short flight from Manchester to Frankfurt
One Mile at a Time
Trump’s “Patriot Passport” Goes Nationwide Due To “Overwhelming Demand”
Several weeks ago, the State Department rolled out a limited edition ”Patriotic Passport,” as it’s called, featuring President Trump on it. This is intended to commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States, and it was only supposed to be available at the Washington Passport Agency, until quantities ran out.
Live from a Lounge
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Now First Year Free
Axis Bank is currently offering its Flipkart co-branded credit card free of charge for the first year. Here is how to get it and what are the perks.
2PAXfly
KOALA AIRLINES: Not a domestic airline, but an international charter feeder
Koala Airlines has finally revealed something resembling a business model. Strangely, although a huge pivot, it may make more sense than the previous collection of promises, aircraft renderings and mysterious non-statements. Rather than confronting Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia across Australia’s major domestic routes, Koala now proposes operating charter flights...
Points With a Crew
Save Up to 50% on Amazon with Amex Rewards Dollars (Targeted)
We’ve written about this deal before but it appears to be back! It appears to be targeted but if so, it seems widely targeted. Save 30% on Amazon, up to $30 in savings (offers vary), when you you purchase eligible products and use at least 1 cent in Amex Reward...
Frequent Miler
Alaska/Hawaiian: Visit Rarotonga (Cook Islands) with a layover in Hawaii for $350 or 23K Amex Points
A couple of days ago, I saw a note from The Flight Deal saying that round-trip flights from San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX) to Rarotonga could be had at the beginning of 2027 for as low as $660, a great deal for such a remote destination. Poking around...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Are the Most — and Least — Peaceful Countries in the World?
Peace is defined as a type of freedom: freedom from unnecessary stress, strife, hostility, disturbance, war, violence or civil disorder; and a utopia of quiet, tranquility, harmony, serenity and security... ...so which countries set the best — and worst — examples of the definition of peace? According to...
Traveling For Miles
Ending: Amex to Virgin Atlantic 30% transfer bonus
For the past few weeks, American Express has been running a 30% bonus on Membership Rewards transfers to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club. This deal is now about to end, so if it's a deal that will work for you, now may be a good time to get a transfer done.
Traveling For Miles
Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Seattle (overall, underwhelming)
The Amex Centurion Lounge network is one of the bigger reasons a lot of us keep paying the annual fee on the Platinum Card® from American Express, so on a trip to Pacific Northwest, I took the opportunity to stop by the Amex Centurion Lounge in Seattle to see what...
Traveling For Miles
JetBlue’s new Mint meals go live tomorrow
Back in June, JetBlue told us that it was changing the restaurants behind its Mint catering. Out were Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones (who have been supplying the menus since late 2020) and in came Crown Shy and Birdee, but that's just about all the information we were given at...
Economy Class & Beyond
Icelandair to add further six Airbus A320neo aircraft
Icelandair’s fleet continues to adapt, with the airline signing leases for six Airbus A320neo aircraft. Icelandair Airbus A321LR – Image Icelandair  The airline has signed lease agreements with aircraft lessor Aircastle for six Airbus A320neo aircraft, which will enter service before summer 2028. This is in addition to the four aircraft...
Traveling For Miles
Headphones charging case caused JFK-bound SWISS flight diversion
On Monday, a SWISS Airbus A330 flying from Zurich to New York JFK diverted to Bangor, Maine, after smoke was reported in the forward section of the Business Class cabin. Two days on, we now know what caused it - a headphones charging case.
Economy Class & Beyond
Saudia secures codeshares with Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic for North America Connectivity
Codeshares continue to be the name of the game, with Saudia expanding its codeshare cooperation with Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic to enhance its connectivity to North America through European hubs. Signing new codeshares with their partners – Image, Saudia.  The enhanced agreement will enable Saudia guests to...
Traveling For Miles
Marriott Best Rate Guarantee: everything you need to know
In an earlier article, we briefly compared nine of the best rate guarantees that are offered across the major hotel chains. In this article we look at Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee in detail.
Traveling For Miles
A look at a King Suite at the Andaz West Hollywood
We published a full review of the Andaz West Hollywood in the not too distant past, so I'm not going to go over old ground. That review, however, covered a King Bed Sunset Boulevard View room, so as I recently saw the inside of one of the property's suites, a...