Points Game: Tortoise Strategy Triumphs [Weekly Top Posts]

by BoardingArea | May 15, 2024 | 0 Comments

1. Error in FAA Reauthorization Bill Could Let Airlines Put Travel Agents Out of Business

The FAA Reauthorization bill requires travel agents to provide refunds where they are the vendor of record charging the customer – even when they’ve paid the airline and the airline hasn’t given the money back to them (if they ever get the money back).

a man sitting at a desk using a computer

2. Let’s Go Again – My Favorite Credit Card Anniversary Bonuses

A simple perk to receive while doing nothing, credit card anniversary bonuses can bring value. These are the ones I enjoy most.

a close up of a credit card

3. Bubbling Bliss: A Review of World Of Coca Cola in Atlanta, GA Plus 5 Tips

When I was a kid, I remember being so excited to visit the World of Coca-Cola Museum. So, when I had the opportunity to go to Atlanta in October 2023, I knew I had to make a stop there.

a sign on a wall

4. Delta Adds Premium Heavy CRJ-550 to Fleet

SkyWest will begin operating CRJ-550s on behalf of Delta Connection as the airline adds much needed 50 seat regional capacity.

a plane on the runway

5. Citi Strata Premier Card Now Live

Just this week, Citi introduced the Citi Strata Premier Card, a revamped version of the Citi Premier card featuring some fresh benefits.

a red brick wall with white letters

6. Delta SkyMiles Awarding MQDs for Hotels & Rental Cars

For a limited time, Delta SkyMiles is counting hotels and rental cars toward elite status. Here’s how this interesting promotion works.

a seat with a bag and a seat belt

7. American and Alaska Flight Attendants Live in Poverty and Experience Homelessness

It’s no secret that flights are still jam packed and that airlines have been largely profitable. But not every airline is sharing the wealth like Delta did with the $1.4 billion in bonuses it paid in February. New hires at American Airlines are being issued “poverty verification letters” so that they may apply for government benefits and 9% of Alaska Airlines flight attendants have experienced homelessness in the past year. This is so unacceptable.

a woman holding a black purse

8. My Credit Card Cancellation Spree

I decided to embark on a credit card cancellation spree – a bit disillusioned by all the annual fee increases and lack of tangible benefits.

an axe stuck in a tree stump

9. Flight Attendants Charged in $8 Million Drug Money Scheme

Four flight attendants have been charged with their involvement in an $8 million drug money smuggling scheme to the Dominican Republic.

a group of airplanes at an airport

10. I’d Rather Be the Tortoise than the Hare: Slow and Steady Wins the Points Game

Discover the benefits of taking a slow and steady approach to collecting points and miles. Learn how to build your stash over time and travel like a pro.

a turtle on a paper money

11. Delta Air Lines Corporate Calls Me Within Hours After Complaint and Provides a 30,000 SkyMiles Gift

In a remarkable display of customer service, Delta Corporate swiftly responded to a complaint, contacting the customer within hours and generously offering a 30,000 SkyMiles gift as a gesture of goodwill. This proactive approach underscores Delta’s commitment to addressing customer concerns promptly and satisfactorily.

a screen on the back of a seat

12. Stolen Valor? United Passenger Reported for Faking Military Service to Get Free Snack

During a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Newark, a passenger observed a woman in coach allegedly exploiting purportedly false military credentials to receive complimentary food.

a man in uniform looking at a woman in an airplane
Weekly Top Posts
Also on BoardingArea
One Mile at a Time
Earn Delta SkyMiles Elite Status (MQDs) With Hotels, Rental Cars, And More
Delta SkyMiles has launched a promotion whereby hotel stays, vacation rentals, and rental cars, can count toward elite status for a limited time. We saw a similar promotion from Delta three times in both 2024 and 2025, and we’re now seeing this return for a third time in 2026 (and...
Miles For Family
Booked a last-minute getaway on miles and points
I just got back from a trip to Asia, and re-entry has not been easy. So I must be crazy to think about traveling again in the near future, right? Well, having miles and points makes you do crazy things. After discovering my work schedule is giving me an extended...
Economy Class & Beyond
Norweigan to purchase Nordic Leisure Travel Group
It seems that Norwegian (operators of Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe) is on a strengthening spree, with the group to acquire the Nordic Leisure Travel Group. The Nordic Leisure Travel Group (NLTG) is a leading company in hotel and leisure travel experiences in the Nordics. The transaction brings together household...
View from the Wing
Thousands Of American Airlines Employees Said New Uniforms Made Them Sick. 10 Years Later, Appeals Court Says They Couldn’t Prove It
Thousands of American Airlines employees claimed the carrier’s 2016 uniforms caused rashes, respiratory symptoms, and other health problems. A federal appeals court has now ended one major case, ruling the employees lacked admissible expert evidence proving the uniforms caused their symptoms.
Traveling For Miles
Get at least 15% off IHG’s best flexible rates in its latest Europe & UK sale
IHG's current global points promotion isn't really worth getting excited about and in what appears to be a further bid to bore members to death, it has now launched an equally dull European sale in which it's offering discounts "from 15%" for stays through March next year.
Frequent Miler
The Edit by Chase Travel℠ price match success….sort of
Over the weekend, I read a post at Dan’s Deals with great interest as he detailed his experience filing a price match guarantee claim for a booking made through Chase Travel℠ for a property under The Edit (Chase’s luxury hotel booking platform). I was excited to learn that it is...
Live and Let’s Fly
Wizz Air Releases A Pop Song With INNA, But Starlink Wi-Fi Is The Real Headliner
Wizz Air has teamed up with Romanian pop star INNA for a Wizz Air-themed summer song called “Wizz Away.” I have no idea who INNA is, but the song is actually catchy and the marketing move is at least more memorable than another fare sale…though I’d think the budget carrier...
Live from a Lounge
American Express Membership Rewards will soon lose Etihad Guest as of July 1, 2026 in India as global partnership winds down
American Express India has finally announced that it, too, will leave Etihad Guest as a transfer partner as of July 1, 2026. Here are the details.
No Work All Travel
Flight Review: Japan Airlines Business Class Tokyo to Jakarta
Owing to a rare upgrade, I recently experienced Japan Airlines business class from Tokyo Narita to Jakarta.   Check-in Japan Airlines (JAL) currently uses Terminal 2 at Tokyo Narita International Airport. Some airport hotels offer shuttles both to the larger (of 2) AEON mall complex, and the airport, so I...
Live from a Lounge
Air India introduces Basic Fares on domestic routes, making complimentary meals optional for some passengers
Air India has launched fares without meals. Available on 40 routes for now, these fares will get you a fare without a meal on board, in exchange for cheaper fares.
One Mile at a Time
European Union Adds New Carry-On Bag Rules: How Will Ryanair Market Flights?!
The European Union has just finalized some new regulations that will impact airline passengers. In a separate post, I covered how we’re going to see positive reforms to Europe’s (already) generous flight delay compensation scheme. That came as a surprise, since the belief was that the policies were going to...
One Mile at a Time
European Union Updating Flight Delay Compensation Rules… For The Better!
The European Union has the most consumer friendly policies in the world when it comes to what passengers are entitled to in the event that their flight is significantly delayed or canceled. This policy is known as EC261 (often referred to as EU261), and it entitles consumers to compensation in...
One Mile at a Time
193-Room St. Regis London Opens Late 2026 (After Big Delay), Now Bookable
London is one of the most premium hotel markets in the world, though it’s a city that has surprisingly few luxury points hotel options. That’s slowly changing, though we’re having to be really patient, given constant construction delays.
Points With a Crew
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Review – New Higher Welcome Offer And Checked Bag Benefit
KEY LINK: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card – Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Seat Swap Requests and Paid Seat Assignments: What Would You Do?
While I was seated in the economy class cabin aboard an airplane during the boarding process for a flight, a passenger attempted to trade his middle seat with a woman who was sitting in an aisle seat because of frequent lavatory use as the reason. That had me thinking about...
Frequent Miler
Wyndham Amex Offer for midscale brands: Spend $250 & get $50 back
There are three different types of targeted Wyndham Amex Offers at the moment. We’ve already written about the one for luxury brands and the one for value brands; this post is about the offer for midscale brands. The Deal Spend $250+ on room rate & room charges at Wyndham midscale...
The Bulkhead Seat
Which US Airports Have the Cheapest Airfare? 2026 Rankings Revealed
A new analysis of government data has revealed which US airports offer travelers the…
Frequent Miler
Chase Travel℠ / The Edit: Best Rate Guarantee | Coffee Break Ep110 | 6-16-26
Chase has been slowly rolling out a Best Rate Guarantee for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders who book hotels through Chase Travel℠. We’ll talk about what that means in today’s episode. Chase Travel / The Edit: Best Rate Guarantee Watch the full episode below, or listen on your favorite podcast platform....
The Bulkhead Seat
Hilton Honors Reveals Final Round of 250-Point America Experiences
Back in May, I wrote about the new “Hilton Honors America Experiences,” powered by Hampton…
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Owners Push for More Money for Marriott Bonvoy® Award Redemptions
A coalition representing nearly 1,000 Marriott-affiliated hotels is urging Marriott International to make changes…
Your Mileage May Vary
Dude Tried The Oldest Trick in the Book to Cut the Airport Line. It Didn’t End Well.
When stuck on a long line, a certain tribal instinct starts to kick in. People know where they are in the line, as well as exactly who’s in front of…
Frequent Miler
Q3 2026 activation links for cards offering 5% in rotating categories
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex, Discover It, US Bank Cash+, and Citi Dividend cards all have rotating quarterly categories that earn 5% back, and the new categories for Q3 2026 are now live. Below are the details of each card’s categories from July 1 to September 30, 2026, along with...
2PAXfly
TURKISH AIRLINES: Non-stop Australia flights delayed until 2027
Turkish Airlines’ promised non-stop flights between Istanbul and Australia have slipped again, with Sydney now expected by the end of 2027 and Melbourne pushed into 2028. That is the bad news. Turkish Airlines plans to fly a specially configured Airbus A350-1000, heavy on premium seats, fitted with the airline’s new...
View from the Wing
IHG Will Start Letting 18-Year-Olds Check Into All Its Hotels Worldwide
IHG will standardize its global minimum check-in age at 18, giving young travelers a clearer policy than Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt. Hotels may still face local law and franchise compliance issues, especially at casino properties, college-town hotels, and resorts worried about parties or alcohol rules.

Categories

Our Bloggers