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
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Campaigners Urge FAA to Force Airlines to Stock EpiPens in First Aid Kits Over Fears Allergy Sufferers Could Die at 35,000 Feet
A new petition has been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), urging the agency to force commercial U.S. passenger airlines to stock life-saving epinephrine autoinjectors or nasal sprays in their First Aid kits due to fears that allergy sufferers could otherwise die without access to this medication. Epinephrine is...
View from the Wing
Delta Outbid Other Airlines For Spirit’s Atlanta Gates — Now It Can Block Competition At The World’s Busiest Airport
Delta outbid other airlines for Spirit’s scarce Atlanta gates, giving it even more control at the world’s busiest airport. The $12 million bankruptcy deal could let Delta tighten its grip on Atlanta, where competitors already struggle for gate access and consumers face less competition.
Eye of the Flyer
A Rock’in Staycation in Fort Wayne, Two Big Status Runs to Dubai and Delhi, Retiring on a Cruise Ship, and an Air France Award Ticket Disaster — Weekly Recap
Hello from a staycation, of all things. My wife and I spent one night in Fort Wayne this week — hotel paid entirely with points, dinner before a Journey concert covered by my Amex Resy credits, and the tickets themselves stacked using StubHub credits from two different Chase Sapphire Reserve®...
View from the Wing
I’m Giving Away Tickets To Give A Mile’s Austin Wine And Barbecue Fundraiser, Are You In?
Give A Mile uses donated frequent flyer miles to book final-goodbye flights, and I’m giving away 5 tickets to its September 25 Austin wine and barbecue fundraiser.
Frequent Miler
A lucky find reminder about staying organized, Wyndham’s crazy calculation, the Paze craze and more (Week in Review)
When the Paze crazy hit this week, I bought a handful of gift cards from Newegg. I first focused on gift cards that could easily be combined in a digital wallet of some sort, but I also bought a handful of cards that weren’t so easy to track and store....
Live and Let’s Fly
Europe’s New “Free” Hand Baggage Rules Could Make Cheap Flights More Expensive
European lawmakers may think they are helping passengers by requiring airfares displayed by default to include a full-size carry-on bag, but this strikes me as a consumer protection that risks making travel needlessly more expensive for many travelers. Europe Goes Too Far With New Carry-On Bag Rules The European Union...
One Mile at a Time
Review: Kennedy 89 Hotel Frankfurt, Hyatt Unbound Collection (I’m A Fan!)
For the next portion ofmy two-part birthday trip to the Golden Triangle, I spent a few nights at the 180-key Kennedy 89 Hotel Frankfurt, part of Hyatt Unbound Collection.
View from the Wing
United’s Brand-New Boeing 787 With Fancy Polaris Suites Is Going Back To Boeing Because It Keeps Breaking
United’s first Boeing 787-9 with its new Elevate interior has suffered repeated mechanical problems since entering service, including multiple cancellations, passenger-free ferry flights, and extended maintenance stops. Now the brand-new Dreamliner is reportedly headed back to Boeing for remedial work.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
United’s Brand New Boeing 787 Dreamliner With Swanky New Cabins Has Been Returned to Boeing Because it Keeps Breaking
United’s brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring its next-generation Polaris Business Class suite and Polaris Studio, as well as the airline’s ‘United Elevated’ interiors throughout, has been breaking down so much that the Chicago-based carrier has been forced to send the plane back to Boeing for remedial work. The aircraft...
One Mile at a Time
After Weeks Of Issues, United’s Special New Dreamliner Returns To Boeing
United Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that debuted the carrier’s new ”United Elevate” interiors has been having some serious issues, to the point that the plane seems to be heading back to Boeing for some work. One wonders if this is just really bad luck, or what’s going on.
One Mile at a Time
IHG Premier Card Limited Time Up To 185K Bonus Points Welcome Offer (Last Chance)
The $99 annual fee IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a popular Chase credit card that I think is worth holding onto long term, thanks to the great perks that it offers (it’s a card that I’ve had for years).
Points With a Crew
Marriott Bonvoy Business Review – 150K Points AND $125
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card has a new welcome offer that is potentially worth hundreds of dollars (or more). This one credit card offer could make your next vacation ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Deep Blue Water of Grjótagjá Cave in Iceland
Grjótagjá Cave in Iceland is a small lava cave which is located near Lake Mývatn. The land on which the cave is located is privately owned by the Vogar farm. A sign near the entrance of the cave requests that visitors “please...
Frequent Miler
Fees for paying IRS taxes via PayPal trigger Venture Business software credit
A popular way to earn extra rewards is by paying personal and or business taxes with a credit card. In fact, we like doing so much that we wrote a whole post about it, and use it to compile current data on what works and what doesn’t. In seemingly completely...
Frequent Miler
Wyndham’s intriguing new card lineup | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep363 | 6-19-26
In today’s podcast we see how Wells Fargo Attunes out, we’ll talk about the PAZE craze (and why it pays to pay with PAZE), and Greg convinces Nick that a $395 Wyndham card is a good idea. Wyndham’s intriguing new card lineup Watch the full episode below, or listen on...
Economy Class & Beyond
TRIP REPORT: What you might have missed from Aircraft Interiors Expo – More Innovations in Hamburg
What you might have missed from Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 TRIP REPORT: More Innovations in Hamburg In this week of passenger experience fun: Back to Hamburg Again. And yes, keeping it simple To Heathrow Airport with FlixBus and Terminal 5 British Airways Galleries South, Terminal 5 BA964 London Heathrow to...
Your Mileage May Vary
New (to Me) Airport Vocabulary: What Is “Ghost Bagging”?
Airport security has changed dramatically over the years, but criminals are always looking for new ways to exploit weak spots in the system. One aviation term I recently learned describes…
View from the Wing
American Airlines Downgraded 3-Foot-6 Star Wars Actor Warwick Davis From First Class. So He Wrote The Perfect Legroom Song
Warwick Davis showed up with a first class boarding pass, but a long American Airlines delay ended with him downgraded to economy. The 3-foot-6 Star Wars and Harry Potter actor may be owed more than American’s standard downgrade refund. And heturned the whole thing into a self-deprecating song about legroom.
Frequent Miler
How to apply for Chase Ink® & Sapphire® Business cards
Some of the best credit card welcome offers also happen to come from some of the best point-earning cards around: the Chase Business cards. These include the Sapphire Reserve for Business®, Ink Business Preferred®, Ink Business Cash®, and Ink Business Unlimited®. You have to have a business to apply for...
Miles To Memories
The Resorts World We Could Have Had, Free Absinthe for Diamonds & Penn & Teller Make History!
The lost renderings of Resorts World (death by 1,000 cuts?) plus Caesars brings back a popular benefit, Penn & Teller make history and a visit to the UFO Hotel.
The Bulkhead Seat
Kraft Launches TSA-Compliant Ranch Kit for Travelers Who Can’t Leave USA Without It
For travelers who now believe ranch dressing is an essential travel companion, Kraft has…
Points With a Crew
Why does renting a car feel like such a scam?
Every time I go in to rent a car, they pull the "welllll we don't actually have the car you reserved.... but what about this OTHER one?"
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta Continues Austin Growth With New San Jose Route
Delta Air Lines is continuing its expansion in Austin with a new nonstop route…
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Airlines Make You Gate-Check Your Bag Even When Overhead Bins Aren’t Full
It’s probably one of the most frustrating things about flying. Your carry-on bag fits in the sizer, easy peasy lemon squeezy. But your boarding group number is pretty high….7, 8,…

Categories

Our Bloggers