Today we're covering a major partnership breakup that hits in just two months, Southwest's potential escape from Boeing-only operations, and an air traffic control incident that should terrify anyone who flies. Plus, Amex just launched a solid transfer bonus and we'll explain why airline CEOs love talking about flying economy.

Mark your calendars: January 1, 2026 is when Alaska Airlines and Korean Air's partnership gets gutted. If you've been banking on redeeming Alaska miles for Korean Air flights or vice versa, your window is closing fast.

The partnership dissolution means you'll lose the ability to earn and redeem miles across both airlines, which is particularly painful given Korean Air's excellent SkyTeam connections and Alaska's valuable award chart. This isn't a surprise—Korean Air's pending merger with Asiana and Alaska's deeper integration with oneworld partners were always going to force this breakup. But the timing is aggressive. If you've got Alaska miles and want to book Korean Air metal, do it before year-end or you'll be out of luck.

Southwest Airlines has painted itself into a corner with its legendary 737-only fleet strategy. While the simplicity has served them well for decades, it's now become a straitjacket that limits where they can fly and how much they can grow. Analysts are floating an intriguing solution: buy Breeze Airways and its Airbus A220 fleet.

The A220 would open up longer, thinner routes that don't make sense with 737s, while Breeze's existing network could complement Southwest's operations. It's a radical departure from Southwest's DNA, but sometimes survival requires evolution. For points collectors, this could mean new route opportunities and potentially a more complex award chart if Southwest integrates a second aircraft type. The operational simplicity that made Southwest's Rapid Rewards program so predictable might get more complicated—but also more interesting.

On October 29th at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, air traffic control apparently just watched as a Southwest 737 and a medical helicopter got dangerously close to each other. The incident—captured on VASAviation—is the kind of near-miss that should never happen, especially after we've already seen a fatal collision between commercial aircraft and helicopters earlier this year.

What makes this particularly alarming is the apparent lack of intervention from ATC. Proper separation between aircraft is fundamental to aviation safety, and helicopters operating near major airports require extra vigilance. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about air traffic control staffing and procedures. For frequent fliers, it's an uncomfortable reminder that even routine operations can have serious lapses in safety protocols.

From November 3-30, American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 15% bonus on transfers to Avianca Lifemiles. That means 1,000 Amex points becomes 1,150 Lifemiles. The question is whether this bonus justifies a transfer, especially given Lifemiles' recent challenges.

Lifemiles can offer solid value for Star Alliance redemptions, particularly on routes where United charges astronomical rates. However, the program has a mixed reputation for customer service and phantom availability. The 15% bonus helps cushion those risks, but it's not as compelling as some other transfer bonuses we've seen. If you've already identified specific award availability on a Star Alliance carrier and the math works out favorably even with Lifemiles' quirks, this bonus could save you a meaningful chunk of points. Just don't transfer speculatively—only move points when you have a concrete redemption plan.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who earns $27 million annually, recently discussed in a Fortune piece how he often flies economy to stay connected with the customer experience. It's a familiar refrain from airline executives—they want you to know they're just regular passengers like you, even though they absolutely aren't.

There's something both admirable and amusing about this. On one hand, experiencing your product as customers do is smart business. On the other hand, the CEO of a major airline choosing to sit in economy when he could sit anywhere is fundamentally different from a passenger who can't afford anything else. Still, if it means airline leadership actually understands the cramped seats, Byzantine boarding processes, and inconsistent service quality, maybe it's worth the PR theater. At least he's not flying private and then lecturing passengers about their complaints.

One determined traveler turned a three-hour Atlanta layover into an epic lounge crawl, hitting nine different lounges and consuming eight drinks along the way. He rode the Plane Train between terminals, tested credit card access rules to their limits, and documented the entire journey.

Was it worth it? That depends on your definition of 'worth it.' From a pure points-and-perks optimization standpoint, he absolutely maximized his credit card benefits. From a sanity standpoint, turning a layover into a logistical challenge requiring precise timing and constant movement seems exhausting. But it does highlight just how many lounge options exist at major hubs like Atlanta if you have the right credit cards and status. If nothing else, it's a reminder to check Airport Lounge List before your next connection—you might have more options than you realize.

Today's stories remind us that the travel landscape never stops shifting. Partnerships dissolve, airlines consider radical fleet changes, and safety incidents highlight vulnerabilities in the system we trust every time we board a plane. Meanwhile, the points game continues with new transfer bonuses and optimization opportunities.

If you're sitting on Alaska miles with plans to use Korean Air, act before January 1st. If you're considering an Amex to Lifemiles transfer, make sure you have specific award availability locked down first. And if you're flying through Cleveland, maybe say a little prayer that ATC is paying attention.

Safe travels,

Miles & Points Daily

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Active transfer bonuses worth considering:

Airline programs: