Why does business news feel like it’s written for people who already get it?

Morning Brew changes that.

It’s a free newsletter that breaks down what’s going on in business, finance, and tech — clearly, quickly, and with enough personality to keep things interesting. The result? You don’t just skim headlines. You actually understand what’s going on.

Try it yourself and join over 4 million professionals reading daily.

Check it out

Remember when we talked about Virgin Atlantic's value proposition? Well, the program just added a new redemption option that sounds perfect on paper - but has one glaring limitation that undermines the whole thing.

Which hotel brand just launched its newest premium collection targeting upscale travelers with unique properties?

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

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club just rolled out redemptions on WestJet flights, and on the surface, this looks like fantastic news. For all our Virgin Atlantic coverage, the addition of WestJet to the partner roster opens up Canadian routes and connections that were previously difficult to book with Virgin points.

The partnership includes earning and redemption reciprocity between Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and WestJet Rewards. You can now book WestJet flights using Virgin points, which theoretically makes Canadian cities more accessible from the UK and Europe.

Here's the problem: the single most valuable aspect of this partnership appears to be broken. While you can technically redeem Virgin points on WestJet, the award availability and pricing structure don't seem to be showing up consistently in searches. Multiple reports suggest that finding actual bookable WestJet award space through Virgin Atlantic is proving far more difficult than expected.

This is frustrating because WestJet operates an extensive Canadian network that would perfectly complement Virgin's transatlantic routes. In theory, you could fly Virgin Atlantic to Toronto or Vancouver, then connect throughout Canada on WestJet using the same points currency. In practice, it's not working smoothly yet.

IHG Hotels & Resorts just unveiled its newest brand: Noted Collection. This premium offering focuses on upscale properties with distinct character and curated guest experiences. For anyone tracking IHG's portfolio evolution, this fills a gap between mainstream brands and luxury flagships.

The concept centers on "one-of-one hotels" chosen for their distinct stories, confident design, and individuality. Each property will offer signature experiences - think special cocktails, local rituals, or unique amenities that reflect the destination. IHG positions this as "hotels chosen for their point of view," which is marketing speak for properties with personality.

The real question: how will these properties price on points? IHG hasn't announced specific award pricing yet, but Noted Collection will participate in IHG One Rewards. Based on IHG's existing premium brands, expect these properties to land somewhere between Holiday Inn Express and InterContinental in terms of award costs - probably in the 40,000-70,000 points per night range.

The brand launches with conversions of existing hotels rather than new builds, which means rooms should start appearing in the IHG system relatively quickly. For points enthusiasts, this creates new redemption options in markets where IHG's existing upscale brands have limited presence.

Alaska Airlines just launched its latest Global Getaways award sale, and the discounts are substantial. We're talking up to 60% off select routes, which can drop award prices into sweet spot territory.

These quarterly promotions have become a reliable feature of Alaska's Atmos Rewards program (formerly Mileage Plan). The deals typically focus on specific partner airlines or destination regions, making them valuable if your travel plans align with the sale routes.

The key is checking Alaska's sale page for the specific routes and partners included. Previous sales have featured deep discounts on Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and European partners. The 60% discount applies to select premium cabin awards, which can make business class to Asia or Europe surprisingly affordable.

Alaska Mileage Plan remains one of the best programs for booking partner awards because it doesn't pass along fuel surcharges on most airlines. Even without a sale, the program offers competitive pricing. With 60% off? Some routes become absolute steals.

If you're serious about finding the best award availability across multiple programs, Award Travel Finder tracks daily award space across all major airlines and can help you spot these discounted Alaska awards before they disappear.

A Yale business school dean just published an extraordinary defense of American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, and it's remarkable for all the wrong reasons. The piece praises Isom as "beloved" and "resilient" while blaming Boeing and weather for American's struggles. The problem? Literally none of the claims withstand scrutiny.

The dean's article paints Isom as a victim of circumstances beyond his control - Boeing delays, bad weather, industry headwinds. But this narrative ignores the fundamental reality: Delta and United face the same challenges yet vastly outperform American on both profitability and passenger experience metrics.

American Airlines' struggles have real implications for AAdvantage members. The airline's operational problems lead to more irregular operations, which means more award seat cancellations and fewer upgrade opportunities. The carrier's financial underperformance relative to Delta and United suggests it has less capital to invest in product improvements that benefit frequent flyers.

American's flight attendant union issued a vote of no confidence in Isom. The pilot union has demanded his departure. Customer satisfaction scores trail competitors. These aren't weather problems - they're leadership problems.

The Yale dean's defense rings particularly hollow because it ignores American's self-inflicted wounds: the failed distribution strategy that alienated corporate customers, the inconsistent premium product investments, and the operational meltdowns that exceed industry norms.

Here's something that quietly drives passengers crazy: the disappearance of individual air nozzles on many modern aircraft. You know those little vents above your seat that let you control airflow? They're vanishing from new planes, and it's not an accident.

Airlines claim removing individual air nozzles improves cabin aesthetics and reduces maintenance costs. They argue that modern HEPA filtration systems provide superior air circulation. But passengers consistently rate individual air control as a meaningful comfort feature, especially on longer flights where you want to adjust airflow without bothering crew.

This is a perfect example of airlines prioritizing their operational efficiency over passenger experience in small but meaningful ways. Individual air nozzles cost pennies to maintain but deliver real comfort value. Their elimination represents the kind of death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach that frustrates frequent flyers who remember when airlines actually cared about these details.

The answer to today's trivia: IHG One Rewards just launched Noted Collection, its new premium brand targeting upscale travelers with unique, individually distinct properties.

Hit reply and let me know - I read every response and love hearing about your real-world redemption experiences, especially with these newer partnerships!

That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more miles and points insights!

Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now:

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 points and miles world is unusually quiet today - no major transfer bonuses or buy points promotions to report. Sometimes patience pays off in this game.

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

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →