From mass flight disruptions affecting thousands of travelers to a hotel hygiene scandal that'll make your skin crawl, today's newsletter covers everything that matters. We've also got breaking news on a credit card settlement that could fundamentally change how merchants process your premium cards, plus a reminder that tonight's your last chance for 15x at Lululemon. Let's dive in.

This weekend's airport chaos exceeded even the FAA's dire predictions. By 5:15 PM EST Saturday, the damage was clear: hundreds of cancellations beyond what the FAA ordered, thousands of delays, and 5-hour security backups at major hubs. The culprit? Staffing shortages at dozens of air traffic control facilities amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The FAA ordered cuts at 40 of the nation's busiest airports including New York, Boston, Atlanta, South Florida, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles. Airlines are scrambling to adjust, and here's the concerning part: airline executives are openly skeptical about whether these cuts are truly necessary. The FAA won't share the data justifying the reductions, leading to speculation about whether this is politics or legitimate safety concerns.

If you're traveling in the coming weeks, build in extra buffer time and consider booking your most critical flights on morning departures when delays haven't cascaded yet. Also worth checking out Flight Queue to see estimated security wait times before you leave for the airport.

Just when you thought hotel horror stories couldn't get worse, a Fargo hotel guest captured video of staff washing stained bedsheets in the guest hot tub. Yes, you read that correctly. The same hot tub where guests had been soaking. The footage went instantly viral and triggered a health department investigation.

The incident serves as a stark reminder that not all hotels maintain the same standards, regardless of whether you're paying cash or burning points. While this appears to be an isolated incident at an independent property, it's worth remembering that hotel elite status often gets you room upgrades and late checkouts, but it doesn't guarantee what happens behind the scenes. The silver lining? Major chain hotels typically have stricter oversight and inspection protocols, which is one more reason to stick with properties where you're earning loyalty points anyway.

After 20 years of legal battles, Visa and Mastercard are close to a settlement with merchants that could fundamentally change credit card acceptance in America. The game-changer? Merchants would no longer be required to accept all card types from a network. Currently, if a store accepts Visa, they must accept all Visa cards, even premium ones with higher interchange fees.

Under the proposed settlement, a merchant could choose to accept basic Visa cards but decline premium cards like Sapphire Reserve or Platinum cards that carry higher processing fees. This matters because those higher fees are what fund the generous rewards we all chase. If merchants start declining premium cards en masse, card issuers might be forced to cut benefits or annual fee credits to remain competitive.

The settlement isn't finalized yet, and it's unclear how quickly merchants would adopt selective acceptance policies. But this is worth monitoring closely because it could reshape the entire premium card landscape over the next few years.

A viral video this weekend showed a European aircraft pushing back from the gate while passengers were still standing in the aisle with overhead bins hanging open. American travelers watched in disbelief, but here's the twist: it's technically allowed in Europe. European aviation regulations permit pushback to begin once the aircraft door is closed and passengers are on board, even if they haven't taken their seats.

This would never fly in the U.S., where FAA rules require all passengers to be seated with seatbelts fastened before pushback begins. The practice highlights yet another difference between flying domestically versus internationally. It's also a good reminder to get to your seat quickly on European carriers, because apparently they're not waiting around.

Another day, another viral airplane video. This time, a passenger was caught on camera repeatedly pulling down the window shade while the 4-year-old behind him kept pushing it back up. The two engaged in an extended tug-of-war at 35,000 feet, raising the question: who actually controls the window shade?

The unofficial consensus is that the person in the window seat has primary control, but courtesy matters. During takeoff and landing when views are best, keeping it open is considerate. During movies or when people are sleeping, closing it makes sense. The real issue here? A grown adult engaging in a battle of wills with a preschooler instead of having a simple conversation with the parents. It's a reminder that a little communication goes a long way at altitude.

A passenger at New Orleans Airport stripped down to his boxers and confronted TSA screeners, briefly shutting down security lanes before being detained. The incident was captured on video and serves as yet another reminder that airport security isn't the place to make a stand, literally or figuratively.

With the current travel disruptions and longer-than-usual security waits, tensions are running high at airports nationwide. If you're traveling soon, arrive earlier than you normally would, pack your patience, and save the theatrics for your destination. TSA PreCheck or Clear memberships are looking more valuable by the day during this chaotic period.

Rakuten is offering 15x Membership Rewards points or 15% cash back at Lululemon today only. If you've been sitting on quarterly Lululemon credits from your Amex Platinum card, this is your reminder to use them before they expire. The $75 quarterly credit combined with 15x Rakuten rewards creates serious value.

Do the math: spend $75 to use your credit, earn 1,125 Membership Rewards points through Rakuten, plus whatever you earn through your credit card. That's essentially free points on top of free merchandise. The offer ends tonight at midnight, so don't wait.

Chase is offering its highest welcome bonuses in a year on both the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash cards, but these elevated offers are ending soon. Both cards carry no annual fee, making them some of the easiest value propositions in the Chase lineup.

The Ink Business Unlimited offers flat-rate earning on all purchases, while the Ink Business Cash provides bonus categories at office supply stores, gas stations, and restaurants. If you have a legitimate business or side hustle, these cards are worth grabbing before the bonuses drop. And yes, sole proprietors qualify—you don't need a formal corporation.

Today's news underscores why flexibility matters more than ever in travel. Between unprecedented flight disruptions, evolving credit card acceptance policies, and the occasional hotel hygiene nightmare, the miles and points game is getting more complex. But that's exactly why staying informed gives you such an advantage.

Whether it's knowing about limited-time shopping portal bonuses, understanding which premium cards might face acceptance issues down the road, or simply being aware of what's happening at airports nationwide, information is your most valuable travel currency. And speaking of currency, don't forget to grab that Lululemon bonus before midnight tonight.

Safe travels, 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: