While everybody’s watching summer airfares climb, the airline lobby has been quietly working on something much bigger in Brussels: gutting EU261, the law that makes airlines pay YOU up to €600 in cash when they delay your flight. The whole fight ends June 15, 2026 — one way or the other. ⚡ Quick Summary The…
Let me just start out by saying this article is different from anything I’ve ever published here. After years of reviewing other people’s hotels, other people’s airlines, and other people’s loyalty programs, today I get to write about something that’s MINE. It’s called InnTable, it’s live on the App Store right now, and full disclosure…
Starwood is back — and if you were an SPG loyalist like me, that name just made your heart skip. Let me just start out by saying that when I heard the news I was actually excited, because SPG, Starwood Preferred Guest, was the NUMBER ONE loyalty program when I first started traveling seriously. It…
Alaska Airlines just eliminated Saver fare point earning and raised partner award booking fees 60% in the same announcement. You have until June 11 to act on one and July 1 on the other — here’s exactly what to do.
Hilton quietly jacked up award rates at mid-tier hotels overnight — no notice, no published award chart, no way to even prove it happened. Here’s what changed and how to use your points before they’re worth even less.
Hyatt expanded its award chart to 78 price levels in May 2026, pushing top hotels to 75,000 points per night — up from 45,000. Then their CEO said members’ focus on points is “objectifying” the brand. Meanwhile, Hyatt is projecting to double loyalty program profits.
American Airlines quietly updated their refund policy so that if they downgrade you from first class to coach, you get back just 40% of your ticket price. On a $10,644 business class ticket, that means you effectively pay $6,386 for a seat that sells for $949. A DOT complaint has been filed arguing this is illegal — and here’s exactly what you can do about it.
A Delta frequent flyer recently went public with a story that stopped me cold. She had accumulated 2 MILLION SkyMiles over 25 years of loyalty — two million — and this summer, she cannot get to France. Not without paying through the nose in cash, which is supposed to be exactly what all those miles…
I’m going to be straight with you: summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most expensive travel seasons in recent memory. If you haven’t booked your flights yet, you need to understand what you’re walking into — because the numbers are ugly, and they’re not trending in the right direction. This isn’t…
Everyone is talking about AI. AI this, AI that. Look, I use AI for many things and it is a complete game changer — but it also has real limits, and I want to talk about both. Here’s a perfect example. I spent days trying to set up Claude AI to search ITA Matrix —…
Europe is rolling out EES — a new biometric border system replacing passport stamps. Here’s what travelers ACTUALLY need to know before flying to Europe this summer, including the critical difference between EES and ETIAS.
Spirit Airlines is dead. As of early Saturday morning, May 2, 2026, the bright yellow planes are grounded — FOREVER. After 34 years, two bankruptcies, a botched merger, a failed government bailout, and a war-fueled jet fuel spike that broke the camel’s back, Spirit Airlines has officially shut down. And I have thoughts. Let me…