• ✈️ Airport News: Heathrow completes £1 billion security upgrade, scraps 100ml liquid limits entirely

• 🏨 Lounge News: Delta doubles Philadelphia Sky Club size, announces Las Vegas location for 2026

• 💳 Credit Card Alert: Chase Southwest points not posting - affects Companion Pass qualification deadlines

• 🚨 Hotel Deal: IHG offering 100% bonus on purchased points at just 0.5¢ each through February 5th

I nearly did a double-take scrolling through airport news yesterday. After years of watching European airports flip-flop on liquid restrictions, Heathrow just went all-in and completely scrapped the 100ml rule. No more tiny bottles. No more frantically transferring shampoo into travel containers the night before your flight.

But that's just the opening act for today's newsletter.

Which airline just doubled the size of its Philadelphia airport lounge?

🇺🇸 American Airlines🔺 Delta Air Lines🌎 United Airlines✈️ Southwest Airlines

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

Heathrow Airport just completed a £1 billion technology upgrade that fundamentally changes how you'll pack for European trips. Starting yesterday, the airport officially scrapped its 100ml liquid restrictions across all terminals.

This isn't a half-measure or temporary trial. You can now pass through Heathrow security with full-size bottles of shampoo, water, or sunscreen - and you don't even need to remove them from your bag.

The upgrade involved installing next-generation CT scanners that create detailed 3D images of bag contents. Security officers can now rotate and zoom on suspicious items without requiring passengers to unpack everything. It's the same technology TSA has been slowly rolling out across U.S. airports - but Heathrow just leapfrogged ahead with full deployment.

For those of us who fly through Heathrow regularly, this is genuinely game-changing. No more decanting expensive skincare into tiny containers. No more panicking about whether your water bottle is exactly 100ml or slightly over. No more unpacking laptops, liquids, and electronics into separate bins.

The catch? This currently only applies to departures from Heathrow. If you're connecting through other European airports that haven't completed similar upgrades, those old restrictions still apply. And yes, you'll still need to follow liquid rules on your return journey if departing from airports without the new scanners.

But for outbound trips from London? Pack freely.

Speaking of airport improvements, Delta just announced three significant lounge updates that show the airline isn't slowing down its Sky Club expansion despite overcrowding concerns.

First up: Philadelphia. Delta doubled the size of its existing Sky Club at PHL, expanding from a cramped 3,500 square feet to a more respectable 7,000 square feet. Still modest compared to Delta's flagship clubs, but the expansion was desperately needed given how quickly the original space filled up.

Philadelphia isn't exactly Delta territory - it's American's fortress hub with Delta operating a relatively limited schedule to its own hubs. But the airline clearly sees enough premium traffic to justify the investment.

More exciting: Delta announced plans for a brand-new Sky Club in Las Vegas (LAS), expected to open later in 2026. Details are sparse, but this fills a notable gap in Delta's lounge network at one of America's busiest leisure destinations.

The airline also confirmed plans to revamp two Florida Sky Clubs, though specific locations and timelines haven't been announced. Given Delta's massive presence in Florida and the state's importance for both business and leisure travel, these renovations were inevitable.

This continues Delta's aggressive lounge expansion that saw new clubs open in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and Seattle last year - not to mention the luxurious Delta One Lounges that debuted in 2024.

Here's where things get messy. There's currently a widespread issue affecting Chase Southwest cardholders - and the timing couldn't be worse for anyone chasing the Companion Pass.

Points earned on Chase Southwest credit cards aren't posting to Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts. Normally, points transfer within a few days after your statement closes. But cardholders with statement dates as early as January 13th are reporting their points still haven't appeared - over 10 days later.

This is particularly painful because many people time their Southwest card sign-up bonuses to post early in the year to qualify for the Companion Pass. That coveted benefit requires earning 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year and lets you designate one person to fly with you for basically free (just taxes and fees) for the rest of that year plus the following year.

If you earned your sign-up bonus in January expecting it to post quickly and count toward 2026 qualification, you're now in limbo. And with no official timeline from Chase or Southwest on when this will be resolved, people are understandably frustrated.

If you're affected, there's not much you can do except wait. Both Chase and Southwest are aware of the issue, but neither has provided a resolution date. The points will eventually post - the question is when.

If you missed out on United elite status qualification last year, you might have a chance to buy your way up a tier - but don't get too excited.

United is rolling out targeted offers allowing select MileagePlus members to purchase a higher status tier. The catch? These offers are highly targeted, and most people won't receive them. Our team checked multiple accounts and the majority had zero offers available.

If you do have an offer, you'll need to make some personal calculations about whether it's worth it. Status buy-ups typically aren't cheap, and the value depends heavily on how much you'll actually fly United this year and whether the perks justify the cost.

For most people, earning status the traditional way - or leveraging a status match from another airline - remains the better path. But if you're close to a tier threshold and know you'll maximize the benefits, it's worth checking your United MileagePlus account to see if you're one of the lucky recipients.

IHG One Rewards is running a 100% bonus on purchased points through February 5th, bringing the cost down to just 0.5¢ per point.

Here's the thing: I'm generally cautious about recommending buying hotel points. But at half a cent each, IHG points can work for specific redemptions - particularly at mid-tier properties where you're getting outsized value.

Think Holiday Inn Express properties pricing at 25,000-35,000 points in expensive cities. If the cash rate is $200+ per night and you're buying points at 0.5¢ each, the math works out to $125-175 in points for a $200+ room. Not amazing value, but not terrible either.

The better strategy? If you're already planning an IHG stay and you're short on points, this sale could top you off without breaking the bank. But buying speculatively in hopes of finding great redemptions later rarely works out.

And remember: the Chase IHG Premier card is currently offering 175,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months with a $99 annual fee. That's dramatically better value than buying points - equivalent to getting those points for just 0.06¢ each.

Which airline just doubled the size of its Philadelphia airport lounge?

🔺 Delta Air Lines

Delta expanded its Philadelphia Sky Club from 3,500 to 7,000 square feet - still modest compared to flagship locations, but a welcome improvement for Delta flyers passing through American's fortress hub.

Have you flown through Heathrow recently? Will the new liquid rules change how you pack for European trips? Hit reply and let me know - I read every response and I'm genuinely curious how this impacts your travel routine!

That's all for today - see you tomorrow with more miles and points news!

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.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs: