Today we're covering American's surprise early Wi-Fi rollout (and why you should enjoy paid service while it lasts), a Citi premium card that delivers absurd first-year value, and a proposed US visa rule that could devastate international tourism. Plus Etihad's contest controversy, a Qantas A380 incident, and the weakest LifeMiles bonus we've seen in ages.

American Airlines passengers are already getting free Wi-Fi on select flights, weeks before the official January 2026 rollout. The airline confirmed it's conducting early tests of the benefit for AAdvantage members, giving some lucky flyers a preview of what's coming.

Here's the reality nobody's talking about: when everyone gets free access, performance will nosedive. Look at Delta's free Wi-Fi experience — it's famously sluggish because every passenger piles onto the network. American's current paid ViaSat service is already marginal; once it's free and saturated with users, expect buffering and disconnections to become the norm.

The silver lining? American is in talks with Amazon about deploying its new low Earth orbit satellite system — potentially a Starlink competitor. But Amazon's network won't be fully operational until around 2028, meaning passengers face at least two years of congested, free-but-frustrating connectivity before the real upgrade arrives.

Citi's new Strata Elite card carries a $595 annual fee, but the first-year value is absolutely ridiculous. You get 100,000 Citi ThankYou points after meeting the spending requirement, worth at least $1,200 when transferred to partners like Virgin Atlantic or Singapore KrisFlyer.

Then there's the credit structure that feels like someone at Citi forgot to check the math. The card includes a $300 travel credit and another $300 lifestyle credit — and both can be used twice in the first year if you time your application right. Apply in January, use the credits before your cardmember year ends, then use them again in the following calendar year. That's potentially $1,200 in credits against a $595 fee.

Add in airport lounge access, Priority Pass, and bonus categories, and the first-year math is genuinely hard to beat. Whether Citi intended this level of generosity or will close the loophole remains to be seen — but right now, it's one of the strongest premium card plays available.

The Department of Homeland Security just proposed sweeping changes to the ESTA visa waiver program that could fundamentally change international tourism to the US. Starting soon, visitors from 41 low-risk countries — including the UK, France, Germany, and Japan — would need to provide five years of social media history plus extensive personal data just to visit.

The new rules also mandate a mobile app-only application process, eliminating browser-based access. For millions of travelers accustomed to quick, painless ESTA approvals, this represents a massive friction increase — and many will simply choose destinations that don't demand their Instagram passwords.

The travel industry is genuinely worried. Fewer European visitors means fewer transatlantic flights, reduced cargo capacity, lost tourism revenue, and fewer premium redemption options for US-based travelers using miles. When you make it harder for tourists to visit, everyone loses — including Americans trying to book award flights on routes that depend on strong two-way demand.

Etihad Guest's "Extraordinary Challenge" wrapped up this week with a winner crowned after flying all 15 of the airline's newest routes. The prize? Five million Etihad miles — enough for multiple first-class awards or dozens of business-class trips.

But members are frustrated after Etihad changed the rules mid-competition. Originally, participants believed they needed to complete all 15 routes to qualify for the grand prize. Late in the contest, Etihad clarified that a tiebreaker essay would determine the winner if multiple people finished — a detail that left many feeling blindsided after investing thousands of dollars in flights.

For more on Etihad's loyalty program, including transfer partners and award sweet spots, our coverage has all the details you need.

A Qantas Airbus A380 suffered an alarming incident on its first revenue flight after being grounded for six years during the pandemic. Part of the aircraft's wing fairing — the aerodynamic cover over mechanical components — detached during flight, prompting an investigation.

While Qantas emphasizes there was no safety risk to passengers, the optics are terrible. After spending years and millions of dollars bringing these superjumbos back to service, having one immediately lose parts raises uncomfortable questions about maintenance procedures during long-term storage. The aircraft landed safely, but passengers and crew understandably weren't thrilled to learn about the missing component.

Avianca LifeMiles just launched a new buy miles promotion, and it's the weakest we've seen in months. The program is offering a 125% bonus on purchased miles, bringing the effective cost to around 1.47 cents per mile.

That's not terrible for filling small gaps in your account, but it's nowhere near the 140-155% bonuses we typically see from LifeMiles. At 1.47 cents, you're paying premium prices for a program that routinely passes fuel surcharges to passengers and has unpredictable award availability.

Unless you're literally a few thousand miles short of a specific booking, wait for a better offer. LifeMiles runs promotions constantly, and this one doesn't justify pulling the trigger. Check our buy points promotions page for better opportunities across programs.

World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points at 15 Asilia Africa safari camps across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The camps are bookable through Hyatt's partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith, extending the program's reach into bucket-list safari experiences.

Safari lodges have historically been difficult to book with points, making this a genuinely useful addition for World of Hyatt members planning African adventures. While award pricing isn't always a steal compared to cash rates at luxury safari properties, having the option to use points adds flexibility — especially when you're sitting on a large Hyatt balance from credit card bonuses or transfer partners.

For more on maximizing World of Hyatt points, including the best transfer partners and redemption sweet spots, we've covered strategies extensively.

Today's lineup shows the travel industry in transition — American investing in future Wi-Fi while current service struggles, governments proposing rules that could backfire spectacularly, and loyalty programs testing how far they can push members. The Citi Strata Elite opportunity stands out as genuinely exceptional, while the LifeMiles bonus is one to skip.

If you're planning international travel or considering a new premium card, now's the time to act before rules tighten and offers disappear.

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: