In Today's Issue: Amex Is Quietly Stripping Platinum Benefits This Summer | The LaGuardia Controller Who Asked a Landing Plane 'Where Are You?' | TSA Lines Are Now So Bad, People Are Sleeping at Airports | Deal Alert: Chase Transfer Bonuses Expire Tonight | Flying Blue Just Made Transavia Worth Flying | Aer Lingus Is Going Free Wi-Fi Fleetwide - Starting With the A330 | SkyWest CEO Accused of Delaying a Flight for His Daughter

Something quietly shifted in the loyalty world overnight - and this time it's coming straight from American Express.

Cardholders woke up to an email from Amex notifying them of changes to the Platinum Card. Two benefits are getting axed, and neither removal is particularly small. Let's get into it - and then there's a wild ATC story you need to hear.

Which low-cost carrier is now offering elite perks to Flying Blue members for the first time?

The answer is waiting near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling. 👇

American Express sent an email to Platinum cardholders this weekend confirming two benefit cuts are coming. First up: the Events with Amex benefit is being removed on June 10, 2026. This is the perk that gave cardholders access to presale tickets, exclusive experiences, and special offers. Amex says cardholders will "still be able to access special tickets and unique experiences" - but without the dedicated benefit, that's a lot less guaranteed.

The second change: Uber VIP status is being replaced with Uber "Priority Support." If you've been using Uber VIP to get access to higher-rated drivers, that perk is going away. The replacement sounds like a customer service lane rather than an actual product upgrade.

There's also a Centurion Lounge access change taking effect July 8, 2026 - layover access will be limited to within five hours of your connecting flight, which tightens up a window some cardholders have been using creatively.

With the annual fee firmly planted at $695, these cuts sting. If you're on the fence about whether the card still makes sense for your wallet, our breakdown at the link below walks through all the numbers.

Here's a story that should make every frequent flier pause for a second. A Delta regional jet was on final approach into LaGuardia - wheels essentially about to touch down - when it became clear the crew had been talking to the wrong New York tower frequency the entire approach.

The mistake only came to light when the controller on the frequency the pilots had tuned to asked a simple question: "Where are you?" That's not a question you want a controller asking when you're already landing. The crew had switched to an incorrect New York tower frequency during the approach, and nobody caught it until touchdown was imminent.

The flight landed safely, but the incident raises real questions about the workload on New York airspace controllers and the fragility of the system right now. We've been covering the FAA infrastructure situation closely - this is the kind of story that doesn't make headlines the way a crash does, but it probably should. For all our coverage on flight safety and FAA issues, check out our flight safety tag page and our Delta stories for more context.

The TSA situation has officially crossed into absurd territory. Passengers are now showing up to airports at midnight for 6 a.m. flights just to have a reasonable chance of making it through security in time. At Houston's airport, a traveler in a four-hour TSA line started handing out vodka shots from a bottle he knew he'd never get through the checkpoint anyway - honestly, a very rational decision.

This is no longer an edge case. Reports from multiple major airports show security wait times stretching well beyond anything that was normal even a year ago. If you have a trip coming up, seriously reconsider how early you're planning to arrive. You can check live estimated security wait times at your departure airport using FlightQueue - it's free and can genuinely save your trip.

And if you don't already have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, this is the clearest possible sign you need it. The dedicated lanes are the difference between a normal morning and a vodka-at-midnight situation. For more on airport security trends, see our TSA coverage page.

This is the one I don't want you to miss. Several Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonuses expire today, March 31st. If you've been sitting on a pile of Chase points, tonight is your last chance to move them at boosted rates.

The 20% bonus to British Airways Avios, Iberia Avios, and Aer Lingus Avios are all gone after today. So is the 30% bonus to Wyndham Rewards. That 20% Avios bonus is particularly worth noting for anyone planning a European or transatlantic trip - Avios is one of the best tools for booking short-haul flights on partner carriers, and 20% more goes a long way. Use our British Airways Avios Calculator to see exactly how much further your balance goes after the transfer.

Not sure which transfer bonuses are still running after today? We track them all in one place at our Transfer Bonuses page.

Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program is making a move that budget travelers in Europe will love. For the first time, elite Flying Blue members will receive perks when flying on Transavia - the group's low-cost subsidiary that operates out of Paris Orly and Amsterdam Schiphol.

Previously, Flying Blue Platinum, Gold, or Silver status got you nothing on a Transavia flight. That's changing. The program is also teasing plans for a new lounge, which would be a meaningful upgrade for premium members connecting through the relevant hubs.

This matters because Transavia offers routes that the mainline carriers don't, and if you're earning Flying Blue miles on those flights while also getting elite recognition, the program just got more versatile. If you want to search for award availability on Air France or KLM flights before committing to a transfer, Award Travel Finder is the fastest way to check availability across programs.

Good news for transatlantic travelers: Aer Lingus has just fitted its first aircraft with free Starlink Wi-Fi, and a full fleetwide rollout is now underway. This follows British Airways, which recently received its first Starlink-equipped plane as part of IAG's broader commitment to bring free satellite Wi-Fi across all its brands.

The A330 is getting the treatment first, which covers Aer Lingus's transatlantic routes - so Dublin to New York, Boston, and other US destinations are in scope. Starlink's performance is genuinely fast by in-flight standards, not the sluggish, overpriced connection you might be used to. For anyone flying Aer Lingus and wanting to check Wi-Fi status on a specific flight before you book, SeatWifi has up-to-date information by aircraft and route.

UK travelers especially: if you're using Chase's 20% transfer bonus to Aer Lingus Avios today (the last day!), those points can book Aer Lingus transatlantic flights - and now you'll have fast Wi-Fi onboard too. Smart With Points has more Aer Lingus award tips for UK-based travelers.

A regional aviation story that's hard to ignore: passengers on a Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest are claiming the flight was held significantly late so that the CEO's daughter wouldn't miss it. SkyWest has mostly denied the accusations, but the airline's response hasn't been particularly convincing.

The flight in question was on Thursday, March 26th. Multiple passengers say the delay was clearly tied to one late-arriving passenger - later identified as the CEO's family member. SkyWest's explanation involves operational reasons, but the timing and circumstances have raised eyebrows in a way that's difficult to dismiss. For more stories on Delta regional operations and airline accountability, see our airline news coverage.

Chase to British Airways Avios: +20% (ends tonight, March 31st). Chase to Iberia Avios: +20% (ends tonight). Chase to Aer Lingus Avios: +20% (ends tonight). Chase to Wyndham: +30% (ends tonight). Capital One to Preferred Hotels: +30% (ends tonight).

Citi ThankYou to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: +30% (ends April 18). Citi ThankYou to Avianca LifeMiles: +25% (ends April 18). Rove Miles to SAS EuroBonus: +20% (ends April 8).

American Airlines AAdvantage: 40% discount, ends April 24. JetBlue TrueBlue: 125% bonus, ends April 18. Southwest Rapid Rewards: 50% discount, ends April 4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 70% bonus, ends tomorrow March 31st. Lufthansa Miles & More: 50% bonus, ends tomorrow March 31st. United MileagePlus: 95% bonus - ends today March 30th.

See all active buy points promotions in one place at our Buy Points Offers tracker.

Not sure which redemptions are actually worth your points? Friday Flight Deals is also worth bookmarking for weeks when a cash fare beats any award option - sometimes the math just works out that way.

The answer is Transavia - Air France-KLM's low-cost subsidiary. Flying Blue elite members are getting perks on Transavia flights for the first time, in a move that makes the loyalty program considerably more useful for budget European travel. A new lounge is also in the works.

Seriously - whether you're moving points tonight or waiting for the next opportunity, I'd love to know your thinking. Hit reply and let me know.

That's it for today - see you tomorrow with more.

Want to find the best award flights before you commit to any transfer? Award Travel Finder tracks live availability across all the major programs - worth a look before you move those points tonight.

The Award Travel Finder team has been tracking these redemptions - here's what stands out:

Hotels:

The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket - Phuket, TH | 1.5cpp value | 80,000 pts/night

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa - Bora Bora, PF | 9.6cpp value | 76,000 pts/night

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique - Guanacaste, CR | 1.8cpp value | 120,000 pts/night

Conrad Koh Samui - Taling-Ngam,Koh Samui, TH | 1.7cpp value | 95,000 pts/night

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa - Bora Bora, French Polynesia/Tahiti | 2.0cpp value | 207,000 pts/night

Status Matches & Challenges:

Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

Flying Blue (Iberia) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

See all status matches →

Browse all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

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.

Capital One Miles to Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer: +30% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aer Lingus Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Iberia Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Wyndham: +30% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Citi ThankYou Rewards to Avianca LifeMiles: +25% bonus - ends April 18, 2026

Citi ThankYou Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: +30% bonus - ends April 18, 2026

Rove Miles to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) EuroBonus: +20% bonus - ends April 08, 2026

Airline programs:

American Airlines (AAdvantage®): 40% discount at 2.26¢ (expires April 24, 2026)

Etihad (Guest): 35% discount at 2.08¢ (expires April 24, 2026)

Finnair (Finnair Plus): 40% discount at 1.3¢ (expires March 30, 2026)

JetBlue (TrueBlue): 125% bonus at 1.43¢ (expires April 18, 2026)

Lufthansa (Miles & More): 50% bonus at 1.39¢ (expires March 31, 2026)

Hotel programs:

Hyatt (World of Hyatt): 20% discount at 2.08¢ (expires April 07, 2026)

Leading Hotels of the World (Leaders Club): 100% bonus at 6.0¢ (expires April 03, 2026)

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

Business Platinum Card: 200,000 points after spending $20,000 in 3 months ($895/yr)

Chase Sapphire Reserve: 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months ($795/yr)

American Express Gold Card: 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months ($325/yr)

Business Gold Card: 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months ($375/yr)

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →