Your Mileage May Vary
The AMEX Platinum Car Rental Benefit That Saved Me $70
If I had to describe my relationship with the American Express Platinum card, “it’s complicated” would be an understatement. For all its standout features—like unequaled lounge access and its collection…
Miles To Memories
Citi Is Eliminating Benefits For Some Grandfathered Cardholders
Citi is ending several temporary Barclays-era benefits on converted AAdvantage cards beginning October 25, including Wi-Fi credits, bonus categories and companion certificates.
TravelUpdate
Is former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce’s book, “Riding the Jet Stream” worth buying?
Alan Joyce. Two words that will usually get an opinion pretty quickly from an Australian person. The former…
One Mile at a Time
Upcoming Marriott Bonvoy Promotion Leaked, And It’s Not Very Exciting
The major hotel groups don't have global loyalty program promotions nearly as often as they used to, and when they do, they're typically not actually much to get excited about.
View from the Wing
American Airlines Admits It Has Too Many Broken Seats And Too Much Duct Tape—Airdrops 60+ Technicians Into 6 Airports
American Airlines is launching OneCabin on September 14, adding more than 60 technicians and dedicated repair teams at six hubs. The overdue program targets broken seats, failed entertainment systems, cabin appearance and duct-tape repairs.
The Bulkhead Seat
United CEO Scott Kirby Reflects on 10 Years Since Being Fired From American Airlines
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is celebrating a decade with the carrier and using…
One Mile at a Time
American Invests In Improving Aircraft Cabin Maintenance & Cleanliness
American Airlines has been making a lot of improvements as of late. Or at a minimum, the airline has been making a lot of positive announcements, though it'll take years for the airline to fully see them through.
View from the Wing
Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants Fight To Keep Their Private Records Out Of Google’s $10 Million AI Deal
Spirit’s archive includes payroll, tax, training, disciplinary and medical-leave records alongside 500 million Teams items. The union probably cannot stop the bankruptcy sale, but it has a strong chance of forcing employee-specific safeguards before Google receives anything.
Live and Let’s Fly
Delta Air Lines CEO Wants Delta In The Same League As Singapore Airlines And Emirates
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian wants his carrier mentioned alongside the world’s best airlines, including Singapore Airlines and the leading carriers of Asia and the Middle East. What makes that especially interesting is that United CEO Scott Kirby said something remarkably similar to me in Denver just hours apart....
One Mile at a Time
Dolly Parton International: Nashville’s Airport May Get A New Name, And I’m All For It
Country superstar Dolly Parton tragically passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. She's an absolute legend who was widely loved, and she had a huge impact on the country music scene, and beyond that, dedicated so much time and money to helping others. There's now a...
Miles To Memories
Last Chance For Fee Free Visa Gift Cards & Bonus Earning At Staples This Week
A reminder that the Staples Visa gift card deal is ending tonight. Grab those fee free bonus points while you can.
View from the Wing
American Airlines Tells Flight Attendants: Be Resilient And De-Escalate, This Banner Explains Why Service Still Lags
This training banner captures American’s HR-first approach: it names traits employees should supply, while the airline still lacks a reward-backed performance system and a CEO-led mission that turns better cabins into better service.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Skyline Arch At Arches National Park
With a change of elevation at only 28 feet and a trail of 0.2 miles in length, Skyline Arch at Arches National Park in Utah is easy to access and yet offers a stunning view of one of the many arches which are located in the park. In 1940, a dramatic...
Points Miles and Bling
Flight Review: Air Canada Economy from Toronto to Delhi
Introduction & Booking: In early August, I flew from Toronto to Delhi for a work trip. I’ve done several long…
Live and Let’s Fly
JetBlue Adds 12 BlueFirst Seats To A320s, But Economy Passengers Pay The Price
UPDATE: JetBlue BlueFirst A320 Seat Map Revealed We now have another piece of the BlueFirst puzzle. Aviation insider JonNYC has shared what appears to be the new configuration for JetBlue’s Airbus A320 fleet: The aircraft will retain 162 total seats, but the mix changes substantially: 12 BlueFirst seats in three...
Live and Let’s Fly
JetBlue Adds 12 BlueFirst Seats To A320s, But Economy Passengers Pay The Price
UPDATE: JetBlue BlueFirst A320 Seat Map Revealed We now have another piece of the BlueFirst puzzle. Aviation insider JonNYC has shared what appears to be the new configuration for JetBlue’s Airbus A320 fleet: The aircraft will retain 162 total seats, but the mix changes substantially: 12 BlueFirst seats in three...
Live and Let’s Fly
JetBlue Adds 12 BlueFirst Seats To A320s, But Economy Passengers Pay The Price
UPDATE: JetBlue BlueFirst A320 Seat Map Revealed We now have another piece of the BlueFirst puzzle. Aviation insider JonNYC has shared what appears to be the new configuration for JetBlue’s Airbus A320 fleet: The aircraft will retain 162 total seats, but the mix changes substantially: 12 BlueFirst seats in three...
One Mile at a Time
Delta 12Status: Free SkyMiles For Seahawks Fans In Washington State
Delta Air Lines has been growing its presence in Seattle for around a decade now, and has been trying to steal market share from Alaska Airlines. Seattle is a different market than most, in the sense that many locals are fiercely loyal, and like giving business to companies that they...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Flight Attendants Are Losing Their Cool This Summer, and Honestly, I Don’t Blame Them
You’re never too far from another story about a flight attendant being rude to a passenger, and it normally comes with the same hot take: if you hate people that much, just quit your job. Oh boy, if only it were that simple. Let me tell you, the vast majority...
View from the Wing
Sexism At A Middle East Airline: Etihad Turned Away 2 Female Doctors During Medical Emergency [Roundup]
Two female doctors say a male Etihad cabin manager refused their help as a passenger lay in the aisle during a medical emergency, citing “protocol.” Also: a passenger allegedly pulls a Boston fire alarm after missing a JetBlue flight, Hawaii trips shrink 14%, and first class squeezes JetBlue coach.
Economondo
Sampling One of Lufthansa’s Longest Narrowbody Flights: Frankfurt to Baku on the A321neo
Read my review of a Lufthansa Airbus A321neo flight from Frankfurt to Baku
Eye of the Flyer
Why Delta May Serve Fewer Predeparture Drinks Beginning September 1 (and More Travel News)
The FAA is changing what happens to your drink before a Delta flight leaves the gate — and the explanation is stranger than the headline. We also have an extraordinary crew commute and an airport-train promise Chicago has heard before.
View from the Wing
Frontier Passenger Takes Someone’s Seat, Holds Up Boarding To Call Flight Attendant A “Jive Turkey”
An older man refused to move from another passenger’s assigned seat as crew ask for his boarding pass. He repeatedly demands the flight attendant’s last name and calls her a “jive turkey.”
Frequent Miler
The best points for lodging, a steep SLH that fell flat, Airbnb tips, (maybe) going for the Gold and more (Week in Review)
I’m currently in Europe, enjoying some great points and miles redemptions. We got to Europe in business class. There was an airport hotel that only cost me 6,000 points a few days ago and a high-value use of Hilton free night certificates for an SLH property on the Amalfi Coast....
Live and Let’s Fly
SWISS Will Open Huge New Zurich Airport Lounge Complex In 2027
SWISS is getting creative as Zurich Airport prepares for a years-long reconstruction of Dock A, opening an entirely new lounge building near Dock B in early 2027. It will house separate Business and Senator Lounges, offer more space than the current facilities, and eventually be joined by a relocated First...
woman shares TSA experience (l) TSA pre-check entrance (r)
BoardingArea
‘I’ve Never Heard Of That’: Woman Tries To Go Through TSA Precheck For United Flight. Then They Reject Her For This Strange Reason
"I had my ticket, it said TSA PreCheck..."
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Nashville International Airport Confirms Plans to Rename Itself in Honor of Dolly Parton
Just days after the death of the beloved country music star Dolly Parton, Nashville International Airport has announced plans to rename itself in her honor as a “lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.” The plans were unveiled...
The Bulkhead Seat
Tennessee Proposes Renaming Nashville Airport in Honor of Dolly Parton
Tennessee officials are moving forward with plans to rename Nashville International Airport (BNA) in…
Points With a Crew
Which Chase Ink card is best? ($1,000 or 100,000 Points)
There are 4 Chase Ink cards with increased bonuses right now (up to $1,000 or 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points). The best Chase Ink card is probably...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Should National Parks Be Forced to Cede Land to Private Developers?
National parks offer destinations that preserve and protect natural aspects of the land that they feature — as well as welcome respites for millions of visitors annually — so should the National Park Service of the United States be forced to cede land to private developers? Unsubstantiated reports are circulating that...
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...
The Bulkhead Seat
Lounge Review: Admirals Club® (CLT – Concourse B)
I had some time before my flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to…