Is it just me, or is this a very strange several weeks for the airline industry? I never thought I’d write the first part of the above headline, because the concept is just so outlandish.

If you don't have a Rakuten account, sign up and get an easy $50 by signing up and spending at least $50 (including on gift cards to many retailers!) in the first 90 days.

Whenever an official announcement from an airline contains news that they will retrofit airplanes with new seats in the premium class cabin, I am simply not interested. The reason that I am not interested is because...

If you want to travel within the US and Canada using airline miles, your first impulse might be to use miles from one of the major North American airlines like American, Delta or United. In some cases, that will indeed be your best bet. However, it’s sometimes possible to leverage...

I’m happy to be a resident of Illinois this evening. American Airlines has a…

American Airlines has publicly gone on the record to say it’s not interested in a potential mega merger with United Airlines after Scott Kirby, United’s chief executive, allegedly approached senior Trump administration officials to broach the idea of acquiring its rival. News of Kirby’s alleged interest in American Airlines first...

American Airlines has firmly dismissed speculation about a potential merger with United Airlines and…

It was recently reported that Spirit Airlines might be on the verge of liquidation, and that it could happen within days. The airline is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for the second time in two years), and while the company was hoping to emerge from bankruptcy by early summer, that strategy...

American Airlines says it is not in merger talks with United, but its carefully worded response does more than just shut down one specific rumor. By backing broader airline consolidation while ruling out a United deal, American appears to be drawing a line against the merger it cannot survive politically...

Chase has been offering a consistent $900 bonus for opening up a new Total Checking Account alongside a Total Savings account, then completing qualifying activities in both. Now, there’s a different version that offers the same $900 cap but only requires opening a checking account, setting up direct deposit, and...

Spirit Airlines is asking the Trump administration for a taxpayer bailout as the airline fights to avoid liquidation in its second bankruptcy in a year. The request is extraordinary not just because Spirit already took hundreds of millions in pandemic aid, but because there is no obvious legal path for...

American Airlines IT keeps finding new ways to fail in public, plus a useful inKind referral boost, the bizarre question of whether anyone has their spouse unpack them after a trip, Siete cookies coming to Southwest, and more.

In honor of its 100th anniversary, American Airlines is giving away 100,000 AAdvantage miles to 100 lucky folks through its “Centennial Sweepstakes” promotion. In addition, if you book an American Airlines flight within the entry period for the sweepstakes, you get 100 additional entries, up to a maximum of four...

If you're at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), you'll want to read my Marhaba Lounge Priority Pass MNL Terminal lounge review, for information on wifi, food, amenities and ...

For a limited time last year, Rakuten offered bonus cashback when applying for select Chase credit cards. Although the offer isn’t quite as generous as back then, you can again earn additional rewards when applying through Rakuten and getting approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. Note that this time,...

UPDATE: United tells Live And Let’s Fly, “We haven’t made any changes to our current Wi-Fi policy.” Prices remain $8 for MileagePlus members and $10 for non-members on U.S. domestic and short- haul international flights. Live And Let’s Fly has learned there was a minor technical issue yesterday that briefly...

American Express cardholders can take advantage of a new Amex Offer to save $200 on their next Norwegian Cruise Line booking.

Apartment Collection by Hilton became brand number 26 of the portfolio of Hilton in January of 2026; and you can book reservations at two of its properties effective immediately. This new lodging category...

Update: The $10 monthly DoorDash credits on seemingly every Chase card nowadays now have a new, frustrating $20 minimum order, making them significantly less appealing for many folks. A few years ago, Chase added DoorDash benefits on several cards. Then, in August 2024, they expanded benefits, meaning some cardholders started receiving...

I’m a pretty pro-union guy, but I have a hard time supporting the union on this one, at least based on my understanding of the situation (thanks to PYOK for flagging this).

A United Airlines pilot was accused of using a slur against a passenger. Then the accuser admitted the whole thing was made up and asked for points anyway, turning the episode into an example of the fake brand complaint meme that airlines and their social teams increasingly have to navigate.

Welcome to The Morning Shave for Friday, April 17, 2026. The reasons behind increased flight turbulence, JetBlue introduces a Companion Pass, and dumb things we keep spending too much money on. Visit BaldThoughts.com/tms to read all the stories. We read a ton of travel articles each day for our research...