Airlines are now officially "credit cards with wings" according to Delta's latest revelation, IHG's richest-ever bonus is about to disappear, and a reader catches Marriott red-handed with deceptive fees. Plus: the most unexpected status match opportunity of 2025 (hint: it involves lunch).

In a startling earnings call revelation, Delta confirmed it's now choosing routes based on American Express card spending patterns. Cities like Austin and Raleigh are getting expanded service not just because of passenger demand, but because residents there are heavy Amex spenders.

Time's running out on IHG's richest welcome bonus ever. The Premier Card is offering 165,000 bonus points plus automatic Platinum status. This could cover multiple nights at InterContinental or Kimpton properties.

A Marriott Fairfield Inn in Plano, Texas was caught charging guests a bogus "city fee" for parking they never used. Thanks to one alert reader who exposed the scheme, the practice has been stopped.

In an unprecedented move, fast-casual chain CAVA is offering instant top-tier status matches to airline and hotel elites. Yes, even Marriott Silver and Spirit elites qualify for their highest tier. This could be the start of a new trend in loyalty programs.

United Airlines just announced new routes to Bari, Glasgow, and Split starting in 2026. These routes expand United's position as the US carrier serving the most international destinations.

A perfect storm of promotions means you can now acquire United miles for just 1.44 cents each by stacking Wyndham's current point sale with two transfer bonuses. This is the lowest price we've seen for United miles.

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: