airplane with both united and american airlines logos
BoardingArea
United + American? The Trump Whisper, the Kirby Grudge, and the One Thing You Actually Need to Know
Scott Kirby may have floated the biggest airline merger fantasy since the last airline merger fantasy — and yes, President Donald J. Trump was reportedly in the room. But before you start repainting tails and holding a candlelight vigil for AAdvantage, let’s discuss the one thing that actually matters. There...
BoardingArea
WebFlyer’s Legendary Mileage Calculator Is Back, and Yes, the Routing Nerds Are Thriving Again
Gooood morning, mileage millionaires and loyalty lunatics. Your captain of sarcasm at 35,000 feet has spotted something on the radar that many frequent flyers assumed had long ago vanished into the aviation boneyard. No, not free meals in coach. I’m talking about the return of an old friend: the legendary...
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BoardingArea
Storm-Proof Your 2025 Getaways: Flexible Bookings & Insurance Tactics
NOAA expects up to 19 storms in 2025, but there's no need to panic. From flexible award tickets to robust travel insurance, travelers can still fly with confidence.
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BoardingArea
Smart Gulf Routes for Pakistan’s Independence Day 2025
As Pakistan’s diaspora converges for festive celebrations and fresh incentives, Gulf carriers offer key connections. Discover top strategies for snagging the best flights and supporting a united homecoming.
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Frequent Miler
Domes Noruz Chania, Crete hotel review (Marriott & Fine Hotels + Resorts® property)
My wife and I just spent the last eight nights on vacation in Crete, a Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea. We spent the first five nights at the adults-only Domes Noruz Chania which is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection that we booked through Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR)...
The Bulkhead Seat
Gone But Not Forgotten: The Rise and Fall of America’s Lost Airlines
Spirit Airlines going out of business has taken over almost all travel news this…
Points With a Crew
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited® – $750 or 90,000 points
The Chase Ink Preferred and Chase Ink Unlimited are two of Chase's business credit cards and they can both be great options to boost your Ultimate Rewards points balance. Deciding which one is best can depend on ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
First Time Dining at Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery. In Las Vegas. I Am From Brooklyn. I Am Ashamed.
My first time dining at Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery was recently in Las Vegas. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I am ashamed that I had not tried Junior’s sooner — and at the original location in Brooklyn, no less. One reason why I had not dined at Junior’s Restaurant...
The Bulkhead Seat
United Boeing 767 Overturns Truck on NJ Turnpike and Strikes Pole on Approach to Newark
A United Airlines Boeing 767 was involved in a highly unusual incident this afternoon…
One Mile at a Time
Yikes: United Boeing 767 Strikes Truck & Light Pole On Newark Approach
When youre driving on the highway, you dont generally expect that youre at risk of being hit by a commercial aircraft. Yet thats exactly what happened today
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
United Airlines Clips Truck Outside Airport Perimeter While Landing at Newark, Upending Vehicle in Bizarre Accident
A United Airlines Boeing 767 clipped a bakery truck and a lampost outside the perimeter of Newark International Airport on Sunday afternoon, upending the vehicle and sending the delivery driver to the hospital in a bizarre and highly unusual accident that has drawn attention from the Federal Aviation Administration. The...
View from the Wing
United 767 Hits Bakery Truck On Newark Approach — Wheel Smashes Driver’s Window Near NJ Turnpike
A United Airlines Boeing 767 landed safely at Newark after striking a light pole on approach — but video and news reports suggest the incident was worse than first disclosed. The aircraft also appears to have hit a bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, with its wheel smashing into...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Spirit Airbus A320 climbing out of Chicago O’Hare
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a Spirit Airbus A320 climbing out of Chicago O’Hare International in late March, as it headed off to its next destination. As we are all aware, Spirit Airlines began an orderly wind-down of...
View from the Wing
Delta Cancels Hundreds Of Flights — Executives Say The Problem Could Last All Summer
Delta has canceled hundreds of flights while rivals kept running normally, and the airline’s own executives have already warned that the underlying reliability problem will take time to fix. Delta is blaming weather, but the deeper issue appears to be crew recovery and pilot scheduling — meltdowns can be expected...
Miles To Memories
(Trojan Horse) Best Ever 2.5x Points Boost at Select The Edit Hotels
Chase has launched a limited time promotion for Sapphire Reserve cardholders that gets you more value for your points when booking select properties.
Points With a Crew
Should Children Be Allowed To Sit In Business Or First Class?
It's the flip side of the "should children be banned from airplanes?' argument - should there be an age limit on flying premium cabins?
View from the Wing
Pilots Shut Off Both Engines Before China Eastern 737 Crash — China Cites “National Security” To Withhold Report
China Eastern Flight MU5735 did not simply fall out of the sky. NTSB recorder data shows pilots shut off both engines before the Boeing 737 plunged from cruise, killing all 132 people aboard — and four years later, China still refuses to release the crash report, citing “national security” and...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Sometimes Stupid Little Things Can Make My Day — Such as What Happened to Me at the Fuel Station
The fuel tank of the vehicle that I was driving was getting closer to empty; so I thought I would I would fill up the tank with gasoline; and after taking care of other business, I head on over to the fuel station and notice that the price of gasoline...
One Mile at a Time
9 Reasons To Apply For The IHG Premier Credit Card With Up To 185K Points
Link: Learn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
View from the Wing
Passenger Gives Birth On ITA Airways Flight To Rome — Airline’s First Baby Born Onboard [Roundup]
A seven-months-pregnant passenger unexpectedly gave birth on ITA Airways flight 855 from Dakar to Rome, the airline’s first baby born onboard. Also: a New Orleans traveler holds up TSA with more than a dozen bottles of seasoning, Robinhood admits its new platinum card is too coupon-y, and passengers keep finding...
Miles To Memories
Grab ‘n Go – My Favorite Cheap (or Free!) Travel Items
While we often strive for fancy holiday experiences, not everything we bring has to be. These are the cheap travel items I rely on most.
View from the Wing
IHG Premier Card Hits 185,000 Points — Worth Getting For The Bonus, Keeping For The Free Night
The IHG Premier Card has a limited-time offer worth up to 185,000 points, which is more than I’ve seen before on this $99 hotel card. The upfront bonus is the reason to get it now, but the annual free night, fourth-night-free award benefit, Platinum status, and 4th night free on...
Live and Let’s Fly
Rant: Saving Spirit Was Cheap, Letting It Fail, Expensive
In a move that will effect travelers throughout the US, Caribbean, and Central America, Spirit shut down and everyone (else) was wrong about it. Crack those knuckles, keyboard warriors, I’m ready. Spirit Was Essential Spirit was so essential to protecting competition and keeping pricing in check that the JetBlue-Spirit merger...
View from the Wing
Limited-Time Best AAdvantage Business Card Bonus: 75,000 Miles and $0 Annual Fee For 12 Months
Citi brought back the best-ever welcome offer on its AAdvantage Business card: 75,000 American Airlines miles after $5,000 spend in 5 months, with the $99 annual fee waived for the first year. The headline bonus is great on its own, but the real edge for frequent American flyers is what...
Economy Class & Beyond
Qatar Airways strengthens regional operations
Qatar Airways is working on its regional operations and strengthening its network, with the reintroduction of services in the Middle East. Over the past week, the airline has added the following back to its network: Dubai (commenced 23rd April) Sharjah (commenced 23rd April) Damascus (commenced 1st May) Bahrain (commenced 1st...
Points With a Crew
The 13 Rudest Things You Can Do While Boarding A Plane
If you want to be a pro traveler, there are a few common behaviors you should avoid, like crowding the gate, taking more bin space than you should, and ...
Live and Let’s Fly
Viking Owns The Brand. AmaWaterways Owns The Product.
Viking and river cruises are one and the same to many Americans, but AmaWaterways is the brand you may not have heard about but should know. Viking Owns The Brand. AmaWaterways Owns The Product. Viking became a household name by sponsoring Masterpiece Theater, Downton Abbey, and various educational programs both...
One Mile at a Time
NTSB Leak: China Eastern 737 Crashed After Both Engines Were Shut Off Inflight
In March 2022, a China Eastern Boeing 737 operating a domestic flight in China crashed shortly before starting its descent, killing all 132 people onboard. This was an unfathomable accident, as the plane suddenly entered a nosedive, even though investigators agreed that nothing was found to be wrong with the...
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BoardingArea
5 Ways to Beat Obon 2025 Blackouts with Rural Ryokan Awards
Obon 2025 is around the corner, and major cities like Tokyo and Osaka will be packed. Discover strategies to find hidden award space and immerse yourself in Japan’s tranquil countryside.
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BoardingArea
Securing Domestic Travel Awards and JR Pass Seats: Obon 2025
Obon 2025 in Japan runs August 13–15, with the peak rush extending August 9–18. Discover how to efficiently navigate flights, Shinkansen bookings, and the country’s cherished ancestral festival.
a large airplane in a hangar
BoardingArea
Mastering the 24-Hour Award-Swap: 2025 Tactics for Frequent Flyers
American Airlines is trimming free hold times on AAdvantage award tickets to just 24 hours, forcing travelers to act swiftly. Here’s how savvy frequent flyers can secure coveted redemptions in 2025.
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BoardingArea
Back-to-School Airfare Dip 2025: Tracking August Shoulder Fares
August’s back-to-school season is shaping up to be an unexpected sweet spot for 2025 flight deals. Here’s how to use fare-predicting tools and Google Flights guarantees to land budget-friendly bookings.
a train on the tracks
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Score Elite Perks with a BOS-PVD Mileage Run on Victory Day 2025
Victory Day 2025 brings an ultra-cheap BOS-PVD route to help flyers top off elite credits. Find out how to leverage short flights for maximum rewards.
a man in a uniform standing in front of a group of people sitting outside
BoardingArea
Virtuoso Travel Week 2025: Luxury Insights and Amex FHR Perks
Top luxury travel pros from 100+ countries unite in Las Vegas from August 9–15 for networking, education, and insider intel. Frequent flyers can discover new event features and Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits to elevate their next journey.
a man riding a camel
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Flying with Pets in 2025: Revised Rules for Frequent Flyers
Airlines worldwide have rolled out updated pet travel regulations in 2025, covering everything from in-cabin breed allowances to stricter paperwork. This guide compares fees, seat rules, and must-know tips for a smoother journey with your furry friend.
an airplane flying over a beach
BoardingArea
Short-Haul Flight Deals: Beat 2025 Beach Traffic
Gridlocked highways can turn a beach weekend into a slog. These short-haul flight sweet spots help travelers skip I-95 traffic and maximize loyalty program mileage for a breezy getaway.