Plane ‘n Simple

BoardingArea is highly rated for delivering insightful tips, advice, and reviews about the topic of travel and travelers’ obsession with frequent flyer miles and points. This up-to-date information is tailored to all levels of travel expertise from a diverse collection of experienced contributors, including travel bloggers, industry insiders and avid adventurers. REQUIRED READING FOR FREQUENT FLYERS.
a person holding a phone and charging a charger
Plane ‘n Simple
TSA Issues Urgent Cybersecurity Warning: Why You Should Never Use Airport USB Charging Ports
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a critical cybersecurity warning that every traveler needs to hear: those convenient USB charging ports scattered throughout airports could be stealing your personal data. In a recent Facebook post, the TSA cautioned travelers about a cybersecurity threat called “juice jacking,” where hackers install malware...
a black and white picture of a man
Point Me to the Plane
Historical Hotel and Great Location Makes This London Hyatt A Fun Choice!
London hotels come in all shapes and sizes. None are as original and quirky as this one though!
An unknown error occurred.
Point Me to the Plane
My Stay At This Iconic Hyatt Hotel Was Disappointing
Should a disappointing hotel room cloud a hotel stay? In this case not entirely. Yet enough that I rate this hotel much lower than expected.
This is a black and white cartoon depicting a crowded airplane aisle with several passengers vying for an upgrade. One person says, "I've flown 500,000 miles this year!" Another responds, "Well, I'm a million miler!" A third person counters, "Oh yeah? Well I know Randy Petersen!" The caption reads, "The competition for upgrades intensifies!" The cartoon humorously illustrates the lengths people go to for airline upgrades.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Art of the Upgrade
Explore the hilarious world of airline upgrades and dive into the comedic chaos of mileage bragging and insider connections as travelers humorously vie for better seats. Discover the quirky dynamics of upgrade competition and share your own stories of success and amusing defeats. Join us for laughs and insights into...
Also on BoardingArea
Frequent Miler
Altitude Reserve descending, year-end moves we’re making, and more [Week in Review]
I’ve just wrapped up about two weeks in Europe, with more than a week of that time spent shopping the Christmas Markets of Cologne, Germany, and Strasbourg, France. We wanted to buy everything we saw, and if you saw our luggage by the end of the trip, you might have...
You Are Travel
Which Countries Have the Worst Traffic in the World?
​tl;dr – The US ranked 32. Which country claimed the top spot? ​Numbeo released a 2025 Mid-year Traffic… The post Which Countries Have the Worst Traffic in the World? appeared first on You Are Travel.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
United Airlines Revives Controversial AI Scheduling Plan for Flight Attendants Months Crew Thought They Had Killed It Off
Flight attendants at United Airlines were left stunned on Thursday evening when the Chicago-based carrier revealed that it was once again pushing to let artificial intelligence dictate their working schedules. The announcement was surprising, given that United had been forced to abandon its AI scheduling system in April following a...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Spirit Airlines Desperately Tries To Reassure Worried Travelers That It’s Not About To Go Under… This Weekend
Beleaguered budget carrier Spirit Airlines is desperately trying to reassure worried travelers that it is not about to cease operations this weekend, as it reaches a critical date in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings to unlock vital new funding. Rumors of Spirit’s imminent demise started to circulate on Friday after...
PointsMath
Fly for Less: Discounted Award Flights Promotions
Few airlines in the world offer discounted award flights, giving you more value out of the air miles of these airlines. However, these discounted award flights are for a limited period and come with certain restrictions. You can fly for less with these discounted award flight promotions. What are discounted...
One Mile at a Time
Surprise: Lufthansa Sells Two Boeing 747-8s… To The US Air Force?!
Well here’s a development that I didn’t see coming, and I’m curious what the backstory is…
PointsMath
Earn Up to 5700 Asia Miles with Rewards in the Air by Cathay Pacific Promotion
Cathay Pacific runs several promotions year-round, both for earning miles and redemption opportunities. Now they have come up with a unique and interesting promotion, “Rewards in the Air”. Rewards in the Air by Cathay Pacific Promotion Basics The rewards in the air promotion are easy and can be achieved by...
One Mile at a Time
Is A Spirit Airlines Shutdown Imminent? Competitors Seem To Think So…
It’s anyone’s guess how this plays out, but there seems to be a belief among some senior executives at other US airlines that Spirit Airlines could shut down imminently… as soon as this weekend.
One Mile at a Time
Ouch: Mesa Homeowners Card Shuts Down Effective Immediately
I’ve written in the past about the Mesa Homeowners Card, which awards points for paying your mortgage, along with all kinds of other lucrative things. I had posed the question of whether the card was too good to be true… as it turns out, it is.
The Bulkhead Seat
My Favorite Flight of the Year: I Got a Centennial Cheer Card and Hung Out With a Cool Delta Captain
When I fly, I am the type that says “hello” to his seatmate and… The post My Favorite Flight of the Year: I Got a Centennial Cheer Card and Hung Out With a Cool Delta Captain appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
All Mesa Homeowners credit cards closed, effective immediately
In a really unfortunate development, Mesa Homeowners Rewards credit card customers are receiving an email stating that their cards are being closed, effectively immediately. A message on the Mesa website indicates that all Mesa Homeowners Card accounts are closed. All credit cards have been deactivated as of 12/12/25. This is obviously...
Points With a Crew
Get up to 40% off at Amazon with 1 Amex Membership Reward (targeted)
Act fast if you want to get up to 40% off your Amazon purchases, possibly even including gift cards. Find out how by ...
View from the Wing
Mesa Homeowners Card Appears To Be Going Out Of Business
Mesa closed my account, and that of many readers. The option to transfer points to airline miles and hotel points is gone. The only redemption option left in the app appears to be.. Continue reading Mesa Homeowners Card Appears To Be Going Out Of Business...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
I Want In on This Resort Fee Nonsense: Open My Own Resort
Let’s face it: hotel and resort properties would not be charging mandatory resort fees if people were not paying for them, right? They certainly would not go through the trouble if it were not lucrative, I would think. Mandatory resort fees do not seem to be going away soon. If...
Frequent Miler
Best Cash Back Credit Card Offers
We’re usually all about earning points and miles. The games we play involves acquiring points & miles so that we can then travel as close to free as possible. That doesn’t mean that you turn up your nose at cash, however. You may have more travel rewards points than you...
Frequent Miler
Our end-of-year miles & points check-lists | Ep336 | 12-12-25 | Podcast
In today’s podcast episode we hear about one reader’s status magic, how Nick’s family got stuck in HEL-sinki, and we make our end-of-year to-do list with your help. Our end-of-year miles & points check-lists Watch the full episode below, or listen on your favorite podcast platform. You can click the...
Your Mileage May Vary
Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy (LHR–MCO) Review: Worth Paying For?
I’ve flown Virgin Atlantic Upper Class before. Lie-flat seat, better food, better service, better everything — the kind of experience that makes you think, “Yeah… I could get used to…
Frequent Miler
SoFi announces new card with unlimited 5% back on grocery
SoFi has announced it will soon launch a new charge card: the SoFi Smart Mastercard. The card will only be available to members of the SoFi Plus Premium service, which will soon cost $10 a month. The benefits of SoFi Plus don’t befit the $10/month price tag, but one feature...
View from the Wing
“Someone At Hyatt Is Messing With You” — My Tampered JFK Reservation Turned Into Broken Locks And Bogus Charges
A night at one of my go-to JFK hotels turned surreal when I arrived and was told my Hyatt reservation had been changed behind my back. From there it spiraled into broken door locks, lounge and billing issues, and “bogus” charges I had to deal with on the way out. Continue...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Law Professor Sues Boeing For $40 Million In Latest ‘Toxic Fume’ Lawsuit After Becoming Sickened On Delta Air 737
The aviation industry is facing its first-ever passenger-led lawsuit over so-called ‘toxic fumes’ after a law professor at Temple University accused the embattled aerospace giant Boeing of leaving him with chronic brain and respiratory injuries following an incident aboard a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737. Jonathan Harris is suing Boeing...
Frequent Miler
IHG limits points transfers for Diamond Elites and IHG Business
IHG has severely limited free points transfers for Diamond Elite and Business Rewards members. Loyalty Lobby discovered a change in terms indicating that Diamond Elite members are now limited to transferring only 100K points per year with no fee, and Business Rewards members can only get access to free transfers...
Running with Miles
Passenger Breaks the Wheels of His Carry-On to Avoid Carry-On Fees
Ever feel like breaking your carry-on to make sure it would fit and you don't have to pay fees? This passenger did it! The post Passenger Breaks the Wheels of His Carry-On to Avoid Carry-On Fees appeared first on Running with Miles.
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: ororo AeroPro 8-Zone Heated Down Jacket (Back By Saturday)
The ororo AeroPro Heated Down Jacket features 8 zones of heating and 205 square inches of heating coverage. It's on Kickstarter, but only for a few more ...
Your Mileage May Vary
I Flew 37 JetBlue Flights in 4 Months—Here’s What I Learned
When JetBlue announced its “25 for 25” promotion, I decided I was up for the challenge. And in the end, I’d get Mosaic 1 status (granted, it’s the lowest level…
A cartoon depicts a scene at an airport gate labeled "Gate 6A." A sign above reads "Travel Quiz." Several people are interacting with a machine that resembles a polygraph, operated by a person behind a counter. The machine is connected to a man with a Hawaiian shirt. Below, text humorously describes the machine's functions: A) Records your heartbeat while waiting for upgrade clearance. B) Records your voice volume when your program changes its rules again. C) Records your blood pressure when you're denied a free award seat. D) All of the above. A caption at the bottom reads: "The TSA and Secret Service use magnetometers, but have you ever seen a mileometer being used? Now you can say you have."
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Mileometer Mystery
Welcome back to another edition of #FrequentFlyerFunnies, where we uncover the humor in the highs and lows of air travel! This week, we’re exploring the whimsical world of imaginary gadgets with the “Mileometer”—a device that captures the emotional saga of every frequent traveler. Buckle up for some laughs! What the...
A black and white cartoon depicts a person with glasses looking through a microscope at a document titled "Frequent Flyer Program Rules." The person is exclaiming "AH-HA!" in a speech bubble. Below the image, there is a caption that reads, "who ever thought it was a good idea to try and hide the fine print from frequent flyers?"
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Microscope Method for Fine Print
Discover the hilarious frustrations of frequent flyer programs in this week's Frequent Flyer Funnies! Our comic hero dives deep into the microscopic fine print to uncover hidden rules and elusive details. Laugh along as we poke fun at the absurdity of needing a microscope navigate airline loyalty terms. Share your...
Points With a Crew
What Should You Tell The Hotel Front Desk If Your Stay Was Awful?
We've all been there - a subpar hotel stay and now you're checking out. What do you tell the front desk? Do you let them know why your stay was ...
A colorful cartoon image shows a large computer screen with the text "YOU'VE WON 25,000 MILES!" and "LOVE, KELLOGG'S." Below the text is a button labeled "SEND" with an arrow pointing up. An animated character wearing a hat labeled "CRACKLE" is reaching towards the screen, while another character wearing a hat labeled "SNAP" is standing nearby. The background includes various office supplies and equipment.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: When Elves Go Bad
Join us for a laugh in this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies as we explore a hilarious marketing mishap involving Kellogg's and mischievous elves!
A black and white cartoon depicts a news reporter standing in front of an airport runway with airplanes in the background. The reporter is holding a microphone and a piece of paper, speaking into the camera. A speech bubble next to the reporter reads, "Times are really tough for the airlines; that's why they have to cut frequent flyer benefits." The title at the top of the cartoon says, "Those Frequent Flyer Miles... The Way It Is!"
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Way It Is vs. The Way It Ought to Be
Laugh along with this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies as we explore the hilarious irony/paradox of frequent flyer benefits during tough times.
The image is a cartoon illustration depicting four people in a snowy, icy environment. Three of them are sitting on the ground, bundled up in winter clothing. One person is pouring a drink from a thermos, another is holding a cup, and the third is sitting with their hands in their lap. The fourth person is lying on the ground, appearing to have slipped or fallen. In the background, there are two penguins standing on the ice.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Chilly Reality of Off-Peak Award Travel
Enjoy the hilarious irony of off-peak travel in this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies with a family’s frigid beach vacation!
A comic depicting a frequent flyer undergoing a vision test with two charts. The first chart, read by an optimistic airline customer, shows 'MORE UPGRADES, BETTER AWARD AVAILABILITY, FEWER FEES.' The second chart, read by a skeptical frequent flyer, shows 'EVERYTHING IS FINE, ALL IS WELL.' The caption at the bottom humorously redefines the term 'BI-FOCAL.'
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Bi-Focal Loyalty Vision Test
This week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies humorously explores the contrast between airline promises and frequent flyer reality. Join us for a laugh with the bi-focal loyalty vision test!
A cartoon illustration depicts a busy airport scene. Several people are shown walking hurriedly, carrying briefcases and wearing business attire. One man in the center is holding a ticket or document in his hand. In the background, there is a sign that reads "AIRLINES," and the area is crowded with other travelers. The overall atmosphere is bustling and chaotic.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Ultimate Reward – Home Sweet Home?
Explore the irony of frequent flying with this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies! Join the laughter and dialogue on travel rewards' paradoxes.