One Mile at a Time
Castlelake To Buy EasyJet For $7.3+ Billion: What’s The Real Motive, Though?
EasyJet is Europe’s second largest ultra low cost carrier, and also Europe’s second largest individual airline brand (after Ryanair, by both metrics). In recent weeks, we’ve known that US investment firm Castlelake was looking to buy the airline and take it private.
Frequent Miler
6 underrated states to visit for a domestic vacation
My wife and I were fortunate to visit all 50 states on a seven year road trip, getting to see parts of the country we’d never have thought to visit on vacation. Some of the places we visited hadn’t previously been on our radar, but they ended up being some...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
State Capitols: 7 Reasons Why They An Ideal Way To See the United States of America
This article outlines 7 reasons why visiting state capitols — both the buildings and the capital cities in which they are located — is an ideal way to see and learn about the United States of America.
State capitols offer...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Does Project Sunrise indicate a more premium, lower-volume international strategy, as Joe Aston says?
In an Australian Financial Review opinion piece over the weekend, Joe Aston, author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out, argues that Qantas is changing its international strategy. His core argument is that Project Sunrise is not simply a new pair of ultra-long-haul routes:...
Frequent Miler
Staples.com is selling $200 digital Visa gift cards with no purchase fee
Staples is once again waiving purchase fees for digital Visa gift cards sold online. This type of deal is always popular, so you’ll want to buy ASAP if you’re interested. The Deal Buy $200 virtual Visa gift cards with no purchase fee at Staples.com. Direct link to offer. Key Terms...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
EasyJet Agrees in Principle to $6.9 Billion Takeover by U.S. Investment Firm
The board of directors of the British low-cost airline EasyJet has agreed in principle to a $6.9 billion takeover by the U.S. investment firm Castlelake. If the transaction completes, the Haji-Ioannou family, who have long been the largest single shareholder in the Luton-based carrier, will lose control of the airline....
Frequent Miler
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? | Question of the Week Ep8 | 7-5-26
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? Reader “LR” sent us the following question: I was intrigued by a recent post about schedule changes in another group that I follow. This particular person noted that anytime United or AA makes a schedule change of any type, you can change...
View from the Wing
First Class Hot Nuts Feel Stale — It’s Time For Airlines To Serve Something Better
First class hot nuts used to feel like a premium ritual; now they mostly feel like airlines stopped trying. If carriers want passengers to pay more for a better experience, the pre-meal drink snack is an easy place to surprise people with something more memorable than the same warm ramekin...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-900neo at London Heathrow Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-900neo resting between duties at its home base, London Heathrow Airport. Virgin Atlantic currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The airline also operates the Airbus A330-300, Airbus A350-1000 and...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
A Collection of Welcome Signs From States
This article contains my incomplete collection of welcome signs from states, as the United States of America was founded 250 years ago yesterday, Saturday, July 4, 2026; and The Gate With Brian Cohen continues to celebrate the classic American road trip — and what is a great American road trip...
View from the Wing
How To Keep Clothes From Wrinkling When You Travel, And The Weird New Gadget That Fixes Them Fast
Wrinkled clothes are one of the easiest travel problems to prevent, if you pack carefully, hang things up right away, use wrinkle-release spray, or let hotel-room steam do some work. A new travel gadget promises to dry and smooth suitcase-wrinkled clothes in minutes, which may be more useful for hotels...
View from the Wing
I Have 26 Credit Cards In A Drawer. These Are The 7 Rewards Cards I Actually Carry
I have about 26 credit cards in a drawer, but only seven are actually in my wallet. The key is separating cards you get for a bonus, cards you keep for perks, and cards that deserve real spending. Here are the cards I actually use for lounge access, everyday spend,...
Live and Let’s Fly
Mid-Year Status Update 2026: Where I Am Winning, Losing
Elite status at airlines, hotels, cruise lines, car rental agencies, and now credit cards all play a factor in how we travel. Here’s how I am faring for 2026 at the midway point. Elite Status Purpose, Needs, And Wants Chasing a shiny tag is hardly the purpose of elite status...
Frequent Miler
Office Depot/OfficeMax: Buy $300+ Mastercard Gift Cards, Save $15
Office Depot and OfficeMax stores have returned with their profitable gift card deal on Mastercard gift cards. The Deal Buy $300+ Mastercard gift cards at Office Depot/OfficeMax & get $15 off instantly. Key Terms Valid 7/5/26-7/11/26. Limit 10 per household/business (different stores may try to impose various limits that don’t...
Live from a Lounge
HDFC Bank Credit Cards devalues SmartBuy Gift Vouchers accelerated rewards with new monthly cap effective today
News coming in from HDFC Bank's Credit Card department this morning is not so great for the card members. Voucher purchases have their own limit now, which is much smaller than the overall limits.
Live from a Lounge
Emirates unveils its next-generation lounge design, investing over USD 13 million per lounge
Emirates has launched a refresh of its global lounge network, with the first two lounges already completed and ready to go. The new lounge philosophy is to bring the aircraft experience to the ground, and the look and feel will improve beyond the usual drabness.
