Something quietly shifted at Southwest this weekend - and if the rumor is true, it changes the entire value proposition of flying them.

There's also a 110,000-mile United card offer that just surfaced, Amex rolled out a new airfare perk for Platinum cardholders, and hotels are finding increasingly creative ways to charge you for things that look free. Let's get into it.

Southwest Airlines was famously built around one core promise to travelers. What was that promise called?

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

Here's the uncomfortable truth about Southwest right now: the airline that built its entire brand on transparency and simplicity is reportedly studying a policy that would ban carry-on bags for passengers on its cheapest tickets.

Not just basic economy restrictions - an outright ban on bringing a standard carry-on into the cabin. Passengers on those fares would be forced to check their bags instead.

Think about that for a second. American and Delta's basic economy fares restrict carry-ons but don't outright ban them in all cases. If this Southwest rumor becomes reality, the airline would be offering a more punitive product than the carriers it spent decades positioning itself against.

Southwest famously coined the term 'Transfarency' to describe its commitment to straightforward, no-surprises pricing. Checked bags were free. The fare you paid was the fare you got. That era is clearly ending fast - we covered the bag fee changes earlier this week, and this would be another nail in the coffin of the old Southwest model.

No final decision has been announced yet, but the fact that they're studying it tells you where this is heading. If you hold Rapid Rewards points, now might be a good time to think about your redemption timeline.

For all our Southwest coverage, follow along on our Southwest Airlines tag page.

A strong card offer just landed for United loyalists. The Chase United Club Infinite Card is currently showing a 110,000-mile welcome bonus - broken down as 100,000 miles plus 3,000 PQP after spending $5,000 in the first three months, and an additional 10,000 miles when you add an authorized user.

The card carries a $695 annual fee (not waived in year one), but it comes with United Club membership baked in - which is worth $650+ on its own if you fly United regularly and value lounge access.

The 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points included in the bonus can meaningfully accelerate your path to United status. For context, you need 4,000 PQP for Silver and 8,000 for Gold - so this card gives you a running start right out of the gate.

Use our United Miles Calculator to figure out what 110,000 United miles is worth for your specific routes before you decide if the annual fee math works for you.

Also worth noting: there's an active 20% transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan through April 30 - a reminder that Chase points have flexible exit options beyond United if you want to explore partner redemptions.

For more on United MileagePlus strategies and news, check out all our United coverage.

If you have Citi ThankYou points and you've been on the fence about transferring, Friday is your hard deadline on two solid bonuses.

The 30% bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a genuinely useful one - Virgin Atlantic is a fantastic partner for redemptions on Delta flights domestically, and on ANA and other partners for long-haul premium cabin bookings. A 30% top-up on your transfer is real money. Use our Virgin Atlantic Points Calculator to see what the math looks like before you pull the trigger.

The 25% Avianca LifeMiles bonus is the other one to know about. LifeMiles is a Star Alliance program that lets you book United flights - often at rates that beat what United charges through its own program. If you're planning a United redemption, transferring Citi points to LifeMiles at a 25% bonus before Friday could save you a meaningful chunk of miles.

See all active transfer bonuses and buy points offers before these windows close.

Award Travel Finder has been tracking some compelling Virgin Atlantic redemption sweet spots this month - worth a look if you're building your points balance for a specific trip. Check out awardtravelfinder.com for the latest.

This one genuinely raised my eyebrows. The Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk - a Hyatt property - has apparently been placing bathroom soap and lotion on the counter where guests naturally expect complimentary amenities. The catch? Using them can trigger extra charges on your bill.

The price list is reportedly not prominently displayed, meaning guests find out they've been charged only after the fact. This is a textbook dark pattern: stage something so it looks free, bury the pricing, and count on guests not noticing until they're home reviewing their statement.

And it's not just Hyatt properties pulling this kind of move. The Westin Detroit Airport - a Marriott brand - has reportedly removed complimentary bottled water from guest rooms, replacing it with an empty glass carafe and a sign asking guests to refill at hallway water stations. The framing? Sustainability. The reality? Cost cutting with a green ribbon on it.

These aren't isolated incidents - they're part of a broader trend of hotels quietly degrading the guest experience while pointing to environmental values as cover. If you're redeeming points for a stay, it's worth reading recent reviews carefully before you arrive. Hotel fees have become one of the fastest-growing sources of frustration in the loyalty world.

For all our Hyatt coverage, see our Hyatt Hotels tag page.

American Express quietly rolled out something called 'Platinum Member Airfares' - a rebranded and consolidated version of its existing International Airline Program and Recommended Flights features. The new label covers reduced fares for personal and business Platinum cardholders across 30 airlines.

The honest assessment? This appears to be largely a cosmetic rebrand rather than a brand-new benefit. If you were already using the International Airline Program, the access should be similar. But consolidating it under one cleaner name does make it easier to find and use - and if you weren't using it before, now's a good time to check whether your next international booking qualifies.

The Amex Business Platinum has been getting a lot of attention lately with its $895 annual fee, and whether it's worth it depends almost entirely on which benefits you'll actually use. The Platinum Member Airfares feature could tip the math for heavy international travelers. Wondering if the Amex Platinum is worth it for your situation? We have a full breakdown to help you decide.

Alaska Airlines lounges at SFO are accessible via Priority Pass again - but there's a catch this time. You'll now pay a $15 fee per visit, you must be flying Alaska or a partner airline, and stays are capped at four hours.

This is a notable change from the days of free Priority Pass lounge access, which has been getting squeezed across the industry. But for $15, the Alaska lounge at SFO is still a better option than most of what's available to Priority Pass members at that airport - especially during a long layover.

If you're heading through SFO and flying Alaska or a partner, it's worth factoring into your airport planning. Speaking of airport planning - FlightQueue is a handy tool for checking estimated security wait times before you head to the terminal, so you can time your lounge visit properly.

Not everything needs to be points-based, either. If you're doing a lot of cash travel through the West Coast this spring, Friday Flight Deals has been finding some solid fares out of SFO and LAX worth a look.

For all our Alaska Airlines coverage, visit our Alaska Airlines tag page.

When Virgin Atlantic announced free fleet-wide Starlink Wi-Fi back in July 2025, it was a headline worth getting excited about - but with no confirmed timeline, it was hard to know when it would actually materialise. That's changed. Virgin Atlantic has now confirmed the rollout schedule, and the first customer flight is just weeks away.

The first passenger flight with Starlink on board is set to be VS153, departing London Heathrow to New York JFK in early May 2026. It'll be on one of Virgin's Airbus A350s, and the entire A350 fleet is expected to be fully equipped by early summer.

If you're planning a trip to the US and want to be on one of the first Starlink-equipped flights, you can check live seat availability on the VS153 seatmap via Flight Seatmap to confirm which aircraft is operating your specific date.

Here's how Virgin Atlantic plans to roll Starlink out across its fleet:

That's a fairly ambitious schedule, though it's worth noting that Virgin Atlantic's fleet is relatively compact and modern - averaging under seven years old - which should help speed things along. There's no mention yet of what happens with older aircraft types, but Virgin has committed to transitioning to 100% next-generation aircraft by 2028, so the fleet composition is already shifting.

Read more about it here.

The answer is: 'Transfarency' - Southwest's own coined term promising that the fare you see is the fare you pay, with no hidden fees or surprises. It was the cornerstone of the airline's brand identity for years. Given the carry-on ban rumor and recent bag fee increases, it's a word that now lands with a fair bit of irony.

Genuinely curious whether Southwest loyalists are sticking around or starting to look elsewhere. The brand identity shift has been dramatic, and I'd love to know how it's landing with real travelers. Just hit reply - it goes straight to my inbox.

That's all for today - see you tomorrow with more! In the meantime, keep an eye on those Citi transfer bonus deadlines this Friday. The Virgin Atlantic and LifeMiles windows are closing fast.

Here's what we're seeing in award availability right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches & Challenges:

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.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs:

Other programs:

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

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

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

3. Ink Business Preferred: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in 3 months ($95/yr)

4. Capital One Venture Rewards: 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months ($95/yr)

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

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →