Today's lineup includes a potential Spirit Airlines shutdown this weekend, the surprisingly sound logic behind paying $2,680 annually for credit cards, and a United 777 that had a rather spectacular engine failure yesterday. Plus, one passenger's desperate (and hilarious) attempt to avoid a bag fee.

Senior executives at multiple US airlines are watching Spirit's December 13 bankruptcy deadline closely—and some think the airline could cease operations as soon as this weekend. The belief among competitors isn't just speculation; it's based on Spirit's deteriorating financial position and mounting operational challenges.

If you have Spirit flights booked in the coming weeks, now's the time to have a backup plan. While bankruptcy doesn't automatically mean shutdown, the industry chatter suggests this could get ugly fast. Check if your credit card offers trip cancellation protection—many premium cards will reimburse non-refundable tickets if the airline ceases operations.

Keeping four premium cards—Amex Platinum ($695), Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550), Capital One Venture X ($395), and Citi Strata Elite ($395)—sounds insane until you run the numbers. Between stacked credits for dining, travel, streaming, and other perks, plus strategic lounge access and reward multipliers, these cards can actually turn a profit every year.

The key is using every credit methodically: Uber credits for Amex, travel portal credits for Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One's $300 travel credit that works on almost anything. Most people focus on the annual fee without calculating the value they're extracting. If you travel even moderately, the lounge access alone—especially when traveling with family—can justify the cost. The real magic happens when you stack these benefits strategically across multiple trips.

Yesterday's United flight UA803 from Washington Dulles to Tokyo suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff that looked far more dramatic than it actually was. The Boeing 777's engine failure sparked a small brush fire on airport grounds, though the aircraft landed safely back at Dulles.

Engine failures happen more frequently than most passengers realize, and aircraft are designed to fly safely on one engine. But when debris from the failure starts a visible fire on the ground, it understandably gets attention. All passengers deplaned safely, and United rebooked everyone on alternative flights to Tokyo.

When a low-cost carrier gate agent called out one passenger for an oversized carry-on, his solution was beautifully desperate: he ripped the wheels off his bag right there at the gate. The bag technically fit into the sizer without wheels, but then he couldn't pull it back out, creating a perfect demonstration of why airline bag policies drive everyone crazy.

It's unclear whether he successfully avoided the checked bag fee, but the video of him struggling to extract his now-wheelless bag from the sizer is instant viral gold. Sometimes the lengths people go to avoid airline fees are more expensive—in aggravation and damaged luggage—than just paying the fee would have been.

A rat discovered aboard a KLM Airbus A330 mid-flight across the Atlantic turned into a multi-day operational nightmare. The rodent was spotted on the Amsterdam-Aruba-Bonaire-Amsterdam triangle route, and once the plane landed in Bonaire, KLM couldn't fly it back to Amsterdam with an unauthorized passenger aboard.

The airline had to fly an empty replacement aircraft from Amsterdam to Bonaire to rescue the stranded passengers, taking days to resolve. Meanwhile, the rat-infested A330 presumably underwent a thorough fumigation. For anyone with a rodent phobia, this is nightmare fuel—and a reminder that sometimes award tickets in premium cabins are worth it just for the extra peace of mind about aircraft cleanliness.

Rove Miles is offering new users a 2,500-mile bonus after $500 in spend or 5,000 miles after $1,000 through December 19. Even better, both new and existing members can earn a 40% bonus on "Loyalty Eligible" hotel bookings, which means you're stacking Rove miles while still earning the hotel program's points, elite credit, and on-property benefits.

This is one of those rare opportunities where you're not sacrificing hotel loyalty to earn portal miles. Book through Rove, get your 40% bonus, and still maintain your status progress with Marriott, Hilton, or whoever you're loyal to. If you have holiday travel coming up, this is easy value. Learn more and sign up with our referral link.

An American Airlines flight attendant's subtle safety check went viral this week after a passenger filmed what appeared to be a routine beverage service. The flight attendant asked a male passenger sitting next to a young woman a simple question designed to verify they were traveling together—without making it obvious that's what she was doing.

The video shows exactly the kind of quiet professionalism that flight attendants practice daily. They're trained to watch for signs that someone might be uncomfortable or in distress, and this particular interaction demonstrated how crew members can check on passenger safety without creating awkwardness. It's a reminder that cabin crew are doing far more than serving drinks—they're the first line of defense for passenger safety in dozens of subtle ways most travelers never notice.

Before you close this out, don't miss the substantial buy points bonuses ending this week. Avianca LifeMiles is offering 125% bonus through December 16 at 1.47¢ per point—historically one of the best opportunities to top off your account for Star Alliance awards, especially for business class to Europe or Asia.

Air Canada Aeroplan and Alaska Atmos Rewards both have 100% bonuses running through mid-December, while United MileagePlus extends its 100% bonus through December 24. If you're even remotely considering buying miles for an upcoming redemption, check our buy points tracker for the full list.

That's all for today. Keep an eye on Spirit if you have flights booked, and remember—sometimes those premium card fees are an investment, not an expense.

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:

Hotel programs: