View from the Wing
Delta’s Inflight Utensils Are Melting — After Years Of “Eco-Conscious” Cost Cuts [Roundup]
Delta’s “eco-conscious” inflight cutbacks look even worse when the utensils start melting. Plus: Southwest’s once-unthinkable layoffs continue, American’s cabin cleaning misses another seatback surprise, and Spirit gets its own ballad.
Live from a Lounge
8 great miles and points buying opportunities available as of May 17, 2026
Here are some amazing opportunities for you to buy miles and points and plan your next vacation at literally 40-50% of the usual prices!
Live and Let’s Fly
Emirates Quietly Killed Its 615-Seat Cattle Car A380
Emirates' 615-seat A380 was the densest jet in commercial service. They just ripped out 46 seats. The premium economy math finally beat the yield math.
One Mile at a Time
How To Earn Bilt Points With Rakuten For Online Shopping, And Is It Worth It?
Rakuten is my favorite online shopping portal, and it lets you earn bonus rewards for purchases you make online. Historically, Rakuten has offered the ability to earn cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points for online shopping, with the latter being a more compelling option (at least for those good...
You Have Been Upgraded
Langstrecke auf Kurzstrecke: Austrian 777 Business Wien – Frankfurt
Mit der Austrian Business von Wien nach Frankfurt … Wien (VIE) – Frankfurt (FRA)777-200 – BusinessDeal: 37.500 Miles…
View from the Wing
VIDEO: Qantas Flight To Dallas Diverts To Tahiti After Passenger Bites Flight Attendant
A Qantas Boeing 787 flying from Melbourne to Dallas diverted to Tahiti after a disruptive passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant and had to be restrained with help from other passengers.
Views by Gate Access
5 Reasons TSA May Confiscate Your Duty-Free Alcohol
During my eight years as a Transportation Security Officer, I personally confiscated well over 250 duty-free bottles of alcohol. Every single one of those passengers thought they had done everything right, and most of them had.  What they didn’t know is that doing everything right isn’t always enough. If you...
Frequent Miler
Last Chance Deals: Hyatt award chart changes, SAS & Turkish award sales, & more
Welcome to our weekly list of what’s ending this week as well as a collection of some other deals that are due to end soon. More than a dozen deals are ending this week, with one of the most notable things to be aware of is that Hyatt’s big devaluation will...
Points With a Crew
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – 3 Reasons It’s One Of The Best!
The Chase Ink Business Preferred is an incredible card with a sign up bonus easily worth over $1,000. And now it is even easier to get, because Chase has ...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 17 May, 2026
Greetings from Adelaide. I’m here for one of my regular catch-ups with family. You will be pleased to know that after more than 10 days, the jet-lag-induced brain fog I have been suffering from seems to have abated. My cold also seems to be receding. So, I hope to return...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
What Is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 353
While I was waiting for the departure of my connecting flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia, I relaxed in a lounge at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Vietnam. I was thirsty; so I decided to get a drink. For this edition of this popular game, can you guess what...
The Bulkhead Seat
2026 Weekly Review: May 16th
Greetings from Tampa! I was in Chicago and Washington DC this week, but am…
Frequent Miler
Watch out for easy-to-forget debts! (A Carrie commentary)
I have been very gradually re-entering the miles and points game after a long stretch of years out of the loop. Today, I have an embarrassing story to share that I’d much rather keep to myself. But on this journey to re-enter the miles and points game (and even graduate...
Your Mileage May Vary
5 Tricks That Might Get Your Bags Out First At Baggage Claim
There are few airport experiences more frustrating than standing at baggage claim watching everyone else’s luggage arrive first. Especially when all you want to do is leave the airport already.…
Travel Codex
15% off Virgin Voyages for Western USA Residents
If you live in the Western United States and have been thinking of traveling with Virgin Voyages to Alaska, Mexico or even Europe you can now save up to 15% by living out west. Virgin Voyages is extending their reach to new clients and trying to attract more people to...
View from the Wing
ChatGPT, Grok And Other AI Travel Agents Picked $1,500 Sponsored Flights Over $500 Fares
Soon your AI may book your flights. The question is whether it will find the best fare for you — or the one that pays its creator, after researchers found models could be prompted to push $1,500 sponsored flights over $500 alternatives.