Major shakeups are hitting the airline industry today, from Spirit's dramatic network cuts to United's game-changing Wi-Fi announcement. Let's dive into what matters most for your travel plans.

In a dramatic move amid financial struggles, Spirit Airlines announced it's completely withdrawing from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Hartford (BDL) effective October 31st. The budget carrier is also slashing dozens of routes across its network starting in November, signaling significant challenges for the airline.

United Airlines is accelerating its free Starlink Wi-Fi rollout, with the first mainline aircraft set to receive the upgrade next month. The carrier has secured FAA approval to install the system on over 1,000 planes, finally catching up to competitors American and Delta in the connectivity race.

Turkish Airlines is doubling down on expansion with an order for up to 75 Boeing 787s and potentially 150 737 MAXs. This massive fleet growth follows their earlier Airbus order, positioning Turkish to become an even more dominant force in global aviation.

Delta continues its European expansion with new New York (JFK) to Porto flights launching Summer 2026. This follows their recently announced Boston routes to Madrid and Nice, creating more options for SkyMiles members heading to Europe.

After struggling with profitability, Air Tahiti Nui will end its Seattle (SEA) to Papeete (PPT) service on January 28, 2026. The twice-weekly route proved to be the airline's most unprofitable U.S. operation.

In an unusual marketing move, Holiday Inn Express has launched a bacon-scented alarm clock to promote its free breakfast offering. While certainly gimmicky, it shows how hotel chains are getting creative with their amenity promotions.

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.

The transfer bonus landscape is particularly interesting right now. The standout is Rove Miles to Air France KLM Flying Blue offering +20% bonus. We're also seeing Rove Miles sweetening the deal with +20% bonus to Finnair Plus+. And don't overlook Capital One Miles's +30% bonus bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

But wait, there is more. and Capital One Miles to JAL at Japan Airlines) Mileage Bank (+30% bonus).

On the airline front, Avianca LifeMiles is leading with 155% bonus at 1.29¢ (expires September 29, 2025). Other airlines are following suit: JetBlue TrueBlue at 130% bonus, and Copa Airlines ConnectMiles with 80% bonus until October 03, 2025. Hotel programs are equally aggressive right now. Wyndham Rewards takes the spotlight with 90% discount for 0.68¢ through October 21, 2025. Meanwhile, Choice Privileges offers 45% discount at 0.57¢, and World of Hyatt matches the trend with 20% discount.