Something genuinely historic happened at 3AM yesterday. Thirty-four years of yellow planes, bare-bones fares, and Spirit's particular brand of budget chaos came to an abrupt end - not with a press conference or a planned wind-down, but with a middle-of-the-night announcement telling passengers not to go to the airport.

It's a lot to process. So let's get into it - and there's a fair bit of actionable stuff in today's issue beyond the Spirit news too.

Here's one connected to today's big story: How many years had Spirit Airlines been operating before it permanently ceased flights yesterday?

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

Spirit Airlines officially ceased all operations at 3AM Eastern Time on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Every flight canceled. Every plane grounded. The company is now in full liquidation - not a restructuring, not a Chapter 11 second attempt. Done.

The collapse came after talks over a $500 million federal bailout broke down, with creditors and the government unable to agree on who gets paid first. Spirit had already been through two rounds of bankruptcy in two years, hadn't turned a profit in seven years, and was carrying the worst margins in the US airline industry. The math was never going to work out.

If you were holding Free Spirit miles hoping to squeeze something out of them - that window is almost certainly closed. Liquidation means there's no program left to honor redemptions. Document everything you had and consult the airline's official communications, but don't count on a recovery path for those miles.

If you booked with a credit card, your best move is a chargeback for services not rendered. Card issuers generally have strong protections for airline failures - document your reservation, screenshot the cancellation notice, and file the dispute. Travelers who paid via debit will have a harder road. Several rival carriers, including major US airlines, stepped up with rescue fares for stranded Spirit passengers, so check those options if you need to rebook urgently.

The final Spirit flight to land at DFW asked tower control if any other Spirit flights were coming in behind it. When the answer came back that they might be the last one, the crew signed off with quiet dignity: 'It was a pleasure working with you guys.' That's the real story - a lot of hardworking people caught in the end of something that was never going to survive.

For ongoing coverage of everything airline-related in the wake of this, check out our airline news coverage.

Quietly, without much fanfare, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has rolled out what is being called its best-ever welcome bonus: up to 185,000 IHG points. The card carries a $99 annual fee, which makes this one of the most points-per-dollar welcome offers available right now on any travel card.

IHG points are genuinely useful - especially at IHG's top-tier properties where a night can easily run 40,000-60,000 points. A haul like this could realistically cover three or four nights at a solid InterContinental or Kimpton property. The card also comes with a free night anniversary benefit and IHG Platinum Elite status, which speeds up your earning on paid stays.

IHG has a huge global footprint - over 6,000 properties - so this isn't a niche program. If you're eyeing a big trip to Europe, Southeast Asia, or even just want a couple of solid domestic hotel nights, this is a genuinely high-value offer. We've covered IHG cards extensively, so if you want to dig into the full picture, check out our IHG credit cards coverage.

Lufthansa is running a buy-miles promotion that caught my eye this morning: Miles & More miles with a 60% bonus, coming out to roughly 1.37 cents per mile. That's one of the best prices this program has ever offered for purchased miles, and it runs through June 1, 2026.

Miles & More miles can be tricky to accumulate in large quantities through everyday spend - Lufthansa doesn't have a US co-branded credit card with competitive earn rates. So for people who need a top-up before a redemption, or who've identified a specific award that requires more miles than they currently hold, this sale is worth looking at seriously.

The main use cases: Lufthansa First Class redemptions (which are genuinely spectacular) and partner awards on Star Alliance carriers. If you've been eyeing a premium redemption and just need to close the gap, 1.37 cents is a fair price for Miles & More. Use our buy points promotions tracker to compare this against other active offers.

Here's a change that slipped under the radar for a lot of people. Chase Points Boost - the feature that let you redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at up to 2 cents each toward hotel stays through The Edit by Chase Travel - has been quietly adjusted. It no longer guarantees that 2 cents-per-point rate across all properties. Some hotels in The Edit are now returning less than that, and Chase has updated its language to say redemptions are worth 'up to 2x' - which is very different from a flat 2 cents guaranteed.

This matters if Points Boost was a core part of your Chase points strategy. The 2 cents-per-point floor was genuinely compelling - it made Chase Ultimate Rewards competitive with direct transfer to airline partners for certain redemptions. If that floor is now variable, you'll want to compare your options more carefully before booking.

For context: transferring Chase points to Air France KLM Flying Blue is currently offering a 20% transfer bonus through May 27, 2026. That bonus could push your effective redemption value well above what the portal is now offering on some properties. If you're holding Chase Ultimate Rewards and planning a redemption in the next few weeks, it's worth running the numbers on both paths. Our Chase Points Calculator can help you compare scenarios quickly.

Also active right now: Chase to Marriott Bonvoy is offering a massive 65% transfer bonus through May 15, 2026. If a Marriott stay is on your radar, this is one of the better ways to make your Chase points stretch. Check our full transfer bonuses page for every active promotion.

United CEO Scott Kirby has been making headlines again for his ongoing argument that airfares are too low - that airlines are leaving money on the table by not charging what travelers would actually pay. It's a theory he's been pushing for years. The problem: it hasn't played out. Empty seats are expensive for airlines, and the pressure to fill planes consistently wins against the urge to hold the line on higher prices.

What this means practically for you: the fares you're seeing right now reflect a competitive market where airlines still need your business. That makes this a decent environment for cash fares if you're flexible. Not everything has to be an award booking - Friday Flight Deals tracks the best cash fares every week if you'd rather keep your points for the big redemptions.

For all our United coverage, see our United Airlines stories.

Not all the American Airlines news is bad. The carrier is rolling out an upgraded buy-on-board food program for coach passengers - new snack boxes, name-brand items, a refreshed cheese plate, and a turkey sandwich. It's not a seismic shift, but it's a meaningful improvement for the part of the plane where the vast majority of passengers actually sit.

This is worth noting because airlines spend a disproportionate amount of PR energy on premium cabin improvements. When something actually gets better in economy, it deserves a mention. If you're flying American domestically and paying for food, the options just got a little less grim. For more on American Airlines, here's our full coverage.

Beyond what we've already covered above, here's a quick sweep of what's live right now that's worth your attention.

On the buy miles front: United MileagePlus miles are at a 50% discount through May 4 - that's two days away, so if United miles are useful to you, move quickly. JetBlue TrueBlue has a 125% bonus through June 10 at 1.43 cents, which is exceptional value if you fly JetBlue regularly. Check all current offers at our buy points promotions page.

On transfer bonuses: Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton is offering a 20% bonus through May 30. Not the most exciting transfer destination, but Hilton points at a discount can work well for last-minute bookings where cash prices are high. Award Travel Finder has been spotting some strong Hilton redemptions lately - worth checking if a hotel stay is on your radar.

The answer: Spirit Airlines had been operating for 34 years before permanently ceasing flights on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Founded in 1983 as Charter One Airlines and rebranded as Spirit in 1992, the carrier spent over three decades carving out a niche in ultra-low-cost travel before running out of road. A long run for a carrier that was always operating on razor-thin margins.

Hit reply and tell me your Spirit story (or lack thereof). I read every response, and this feels like a moment where the community has opinions. Did it deliver on its promise of cheap travel, or was the whole experience a cautionary tale?

That's all for today. A genuinely significant moment in US aviation history, some real actionable offers to work with, and a heads-up on a Chase change that deserves more attention than it's getting. See you tomorrow.

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

1. Business Platinum Card: 300,000 points after spending $20,000 in 3 months ($695/yr)

2. Business Gold Card: 200,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months ($375/yr)

3. The Platinum Card: 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in 6 months ($895/yr)

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

The Award Travel Finder team has been tracking these redemptions - here's what stands out:

Hotels:

Status Matches & Challenges:

• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue (Iberia) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

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:

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

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →