Christmas Day brings a gift-wrapped industry bombshell: American, Delta, and United now collectively own the majority of Republic Airways—the regional carrier that flies for all three of them. Meanwhile, hotel room doors are broadcasting your occupancy status to anyone walking by, and Peninsula Hotels just launched the most flexible check-in policy I've ever seen.

In a development that flew under most radars yesterday, American, Delta, and United have taken majority ownership of Republic Airways—a key regional operator that operates flights for all three carriers. Here's the twist: the FAA Administrator still owns 652,475 shares in the airline he's supposed to regulate.

Mike Whitaker, the current FAA Administrator, served as Republic's CEO before taking his government position. While he's required to recuse himself from certain decisions affecting the airline, the optics of regulating an airline where you hold significant shares raises obvious questions about conflicts of interest.

For travelers, this ownership structure could mean more integrated operations between mainline and regional flights, potentially smoother connections, and possibly better coordination during irregular operations. The big three now have direct financial incentive to ensure their regional partner succeeds. For all our coverage on American Airlines, Delta, and United, check out our dedicated airline pages.

Speaking of privacy concerns, a viral TikTok from a Hilton property in Cancun revealed something unsettling: red and green LED lights above guest room doors that appear to indicate whether someone is currently in the room.

These systems typically combine door sensors, motion detection, and timing algorithms to infer occupancy—useful data for housekeeping efficiency. The problem? That information is displayed in the hallway for anyone walking by, potentially signaling to bad actors which rooms are currently empty. What should be internal staff data becomes a security vulnerability when broadcast publicly.

If you spot similar systems at your hotel, consider requesting a room change or at minimum, use the in-room safe for valuables and maintain the 'Do Not Disturb' sign regardless of whether you're present. For more on hotel security concerns, we track these issues regularly.

American Airlines can't seem to stop talking about its "premium" future, but passengers keep posting evidence that contradicts the narrative. Recent social media posts show broken tray tables, visibly dirty cabins, and even duct tape holding things together in premium cabins.

The disconnect between American's marketing push and the on-the-ground reality creates a credibility problem. When you're charging premium fares and pushing co-branded credit cards with annual fees north of $500, passengers reasonably expect functional hardware and clean seats. Photos of duct-taped seats in business class tell a different story about where the airline's priorities actually lie.

This matters for award travelers too—you're burning 57,500 AAdvantage miles for domestic first class or 70,000+ miles for international business. Those redemptions should come with consistently maintained hard products, not improvised repairs.

While American struggles with basics, Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotels is rewriting hospitality rules with what might be the most flexible check-in and check-out policy in the luxury hotel industry.

Introduced as part of "The Peninsula Promise" in 2021, the policy essentially allows guests to check in and out whenever they need—not just within published time windows. Arrive at 6 AM after a red-eye? Your room should be ready. Need to stay until 6 PM for an evening flight? No problem, no extra charge.

This flexibility represents a fundamental rethinking of hotel operations that puts guest convenience first. Most hotels still operate on rigid 3 PM check-in and 11 AM check-out schedules designed around housekeeping workflows, not traveler needs. Peninsula recognized that luxury hospitality should adapt to guests, not the other way around.

Peninsula's policy stands out because at most hotels, published check-in times aren't actually guaranteed. Hotels typically state check-in begins at 3 PM or 4 PM, but that's more aspiration than promise—particularly during busy periods or if the previous guest extended their stay.

What happens when your room isn't ready? Policies vary widely. Some hotels offer compensation like food and beverage credits or lounge access. Others simply apologize and store your bags. Elite status helps here—Marriott Titanium and Ambassador members get room guarantees by 10 AM, while Hyatt Globalist members can typically check in at 8 AM.

The lesson: always call ahead if you need early access, and know your elite benefits. For more on maximizing hotel elite status perks, we cover strategies regularly.

The FAA locked down Palm Beach airspace yesterday with a presidential flight restriction that runs through January 4, tied to expected Mar-a-Lago travel. The inner 10-mile ring is effectively closed to most private flying, while commercial operations into Palm Beach International require TSA-style screening at one of five gateway airports.

If you're using points to book flights into or out of Palm Beach during the holidays, expect potential delays and plan extra buffer time. Private aviation becomes significantly more complicated, requiring nonstop ATC-controlled operations. The restriction transforms what's normally a reliably efficient regional airport into one requiring careful planning.

On a lighter note, Lufthansa just took delivery of a Boeing 787 in a special 100th anniversary livery that's genuinely eye-catching. The design prominently features the airline's crane logo with centennial branding to mark its 2026 milestone.

Special liveries usually range from forgettable to awkward, but Lufthansa nailed this one. The aircraft joins the fleet as part of the airline's 787 expansion, and if you're booking Lufthansa Miles & More awards to Europe in 2026, you might get lucky and score this particular bird. It's the kind of small detail that makes a long-haul flight more memorable.

Before you go, here's what's ending soon:

Buy Points Offers: United MileagePlus 100% bonus ends today (December 24) at 1.88¢ per point. JetBlue TrueBlue offers 130% bonus through December 31 at 1.4¢ per point. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club provides 70% bonus through December 31 at 1.47¢ per point. Southwest Rapid Rewards continues its 50% discount through year-end at 1.5¢ per point.

Transfer Bonuses: Amex Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers a targeted 40% bonus—check your account to see if you're eligible. Rove Miles continues its 20% transfer bonus to Finnair Plus.

That's today's roundup. Between airline ownership shakeups, hotel privacy concerns, and surprising policy improvements, there's plenty to consider as you plan your 2026 travel strategy. Stay safe out there.

— The Miles & Points Daily Team

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:

Hotel programs: