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☆ FAA system outage disrupts thousands of flights across U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The FAA's outage was the second major air travel disruption in less than a month and drew bipartisan criticism. Later Wednesday, Canada's air navigation agency said its similar notification system experienced a brief outage, but said no flights were delayed as a result. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards FAA system failure created mass cancellations across the U.S. on Jan. 11th, 2023. FlightawareWednesday's FAA issue added to concern from Washington from both Republicans and Democrats, particularly about technology that the complex U.S. air system, the world's busiest, relies on. More than a third of Delta's and United's mainline flights were delayed, while about 50% of American's were running late.

Airline credit cards tout many flashy perks in order to entice new customers and maintain existing ones. However, one of the most underrated airline credit card benefits might just be a companion ticket. First, only a handful of airline credit cards actually offer them, which means consumers might not even be aware they exist. Let's look at the best credit card companion certificates by airline. What to know about airline credit card companion certificatesCompanion tickets offered by airline credit cards are amazing benefits that can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year — if you know how to maximize them.

☆ The best ways to book domestic flights using Amex Membership Rewards points
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Jason Stauffer | Benji Stawski | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

Below, CNBC Select details the best ways to redeem Amex points to fly for free (or nearly free) across the U.S. Best Amex cards for earning Membership Rewards pointsAmerican Express has a strong lineup of both personal and business cards that earn transferrable Membership Rewards points. How to use Amex points for domestic flightsYou can only transfer Amex points to two U.S.-based airline programs: Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue. Booking United flights with Amex points Amex Membership Rewards points don't transfer to United MileagePlus, but you can book United award flights through United's Star Alliance partners, such as Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan. By strategically transferring Amex points to partner airlines, you can use Amex points to book flights with United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and others.

☆ I flew on a private jet to Miami and on Spirit Airlines back to New York. Here's how my $92 flight compared to a Bombardier Global 7500 which can cost $20,000 an hour to charter.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

At the end of the day, obviously flying private would be a preferred method of travel. But, most people are happy earning status on their favorite mainline airline or flying as cheaply as they can on a low-cost carrier. My preferred airlines are United and Delta for status, reliability, and comfort. On The Run Photo/ShutterstockI flew on Delta's Boeing 767 from Sweden to New York in economy and it was the best transatlantic flight I've taken in a long time

☆ Delta's first-ever Boeing 767 jet was bought for $30 million in 1982 with the help of employees and the public. See the historic plane's full history.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"It's hard enough to say what we'll be flying in January, let alone what we'll be flying in 2027," Delta President Glen Hauenstein said during a November 2021 pilot webinar. "You don't want to get yourself in a box where you've committed specifically to flying or retiring those planes." Flying on Delta's Boeing 767-300ER. Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: Airline Weekly

Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it Check mark icon A check mark. Very high annual fee Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. $325 annual travel and dining credit can offset most of the $400 annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. Statement credits can help you recoup the annual fee Check mark icon A check mark.

Of course, there isn't one best credit card to use in New York City. Show more Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 20.74% - 27.74% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Details Rewards Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. It earns 2x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel (outside of purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards) and 3x points on dining. It's the best card to use for dining out, takeout, and food delivery in New York City because you'll earn 4 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent.

☆ Delta plans to offer free Wi-Fi starting Feb. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Delta Air Lines will offer travelers free Wi-Fi starting Feb. 1, after years of studying the possibility. Travelers will access the free internet service by logging in with their Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer account information, Bastian added. It's free on JetBlue , which has some corporate sponsorships for the service, and Hawaiian Airlines is planning to offer free internet with SpaceX's Starlink this year. American Airlines ' Wi-Fi service starts at $10 and varies depending on the route, though last April, the carrier and its provider Viasat, started trialing free Wi-Fi for some customers. Airline executives have been hesitant to offer free Wi-Fi service until it is more reliable.

☆ Delta will start offering free Wi-Fi on its planes this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Delta Air Lines will be the first US global carrier to offer free Wi-Fi on most domestic mainline flights. JetBlue Airways, which is considered a low-cost airline, already offers free Wi-Fi on all of its planes. As of now, only Delta-operated aircraft will offer free Wi-Fi — this does not apply to its codeshare or regional partners. The new offering is in partnership with T-Mobile, which already offers free internet onboard many Delta flights to users of its cellular network. Delta, which has been regularly praised for its on-time performance, safety record, and cabin products, is bringing more than just free Wi-Fi to its planes this year.

However, most airlines also offer a credit card that provides priority boarding, and if they don't there are plenty of credit cards that'll reimburse you for priority boarding fees. Airline credit cards with priority boardingIt's worth noting that priority boarding isn't the only reason to get an airline credit card. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightEven if you don't have a co-branded airline credit card, you can still enjoy priority boarding by paying for it with a credit card that offers annual travel credits. Do you have to pay with an airline credit card to get priority boarding?

Airline credit cards with free checked bagsPlenty of airlines offer credit cards with a free checked bag, but those cards often offer other benefits too. United Airlines credit cardsThere are five different United credit cards available that offer free checked bags. Credit cards with free checked bags frequently asked questions (FAQ)How can you get free checked bags? However, you can receive at least one free checked bag by holding various airline credit cards which waive this fee. Do you have to pay with your airline credit card to get free checked bags?

Another option is to pay for priority boarding using a travel rewards credit card that offers statement credits for airline or travel purchases. However, most airlines also offer a credit card that provides priority boarding, and if they don't there are plenty of credit cards that'll reimburse you for priority boarding fees. Airline credit cards with priority boardingIt's worth noting that priority boarding isn't the only reason to get an airline credit card. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightEven if you don't have a co-branded airline credit card, you can still enjoy priority boarding by paying for it with a credit card that offers annual travel credits. Do you have to pay with an airline credit card to get priority boarding?

☆ A weak economy will test consumers' wanderlust, but these stocks could prove resilient in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The U.S. Travel Association anticipates domestic leisure travel demand will hold up, although growth may be a bit slower in 2023. The stock has an average analyst rating of buy and 47% upside to the average price target, according to FactSet. Marriott has an average analyst rating of overweight and 13.5% upside to the average analyst price target, per FactSet. Norwegian has an average analyst rating of overweight and nearly 27% upside to the average analyst price target, while Royal Caribbean has an average analyst rating of overweight and about 24% upside to its average price target. However, Carnival has an average analyst rating of hold and 24% upside to the average price target.

☆ Flight delays and cancellations will likely impact millions of Christmas travelers. What to do when your airline experiences disruptions.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The National Weather Service has warned of a strong winter storm expected to affect holiday travel. But, some airlines offer to rebook on their website or mobile app and waive any fees, so it's sometimes easier to make changes online than in person. Carriers offering both are Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines, according to the DoT dashboard. It never hurts to request a meal or hotel during flight disruptions, and you might get lucky with a goodwill gesture from the carrier. For example, in the case of a winter storm, it's likely many passengers will end up stranded in random cities across the US.

Of seven new dams planned in Laos, at least four are co-financed by Chinese companies, according to Mekong Dam Monitor data. 'WAKE-UP CALL'Farmers in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta region were not prepared for the speed at which their landscape - and fortunes - have changed. The Mekong River Commission estimated in 2018 that total sediment flow by now would be around 47 million tonnes per year. "Mainstream dams catch everything," said economist Brian Eyler at the Stimson Center, which runs the Mekong Dam Monitor. The Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams in Laos are the most recent to come online, with Xayaburi the largest on the entire Mekong River.

☆ Pilot pay is skyrocketing in the airline industry and it could keep airfare sky high
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Pilots are seeing big pay bumps across the industry. Taylor Rains/InsiderDelta Air Lines and its pilot union have come to a preliminary agreement to increase wages by over 30%. Pilot pay raises could increase airfare as labor is the number one cost for airlines. But pilot pay raises may be a more effective way to attract and retain talent. Increased pay could mean higher faresAs more major carriers potentially solidify additional pay raises, it's possible the industry's already high airfare could increase even more as labor is the number one cost for airlines.

☆ Pilots at rivals call Delta's pay offer a new 'benchmark'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Delta's offer also includes a lump-sum one-time payment, reduced health insurance premiums, and improvements in holiday pay, vacation, company contributions to 401(k) and work rules. Its union estimates the proposed deal represents more than $7.2 billion of cumulative value increases over the next four years. Similarly, United pilots turned down an offer that included more than 14.5% cumulative wage increases and enhanced overtime and training pay. Analysts at Jefferies estimate Delta's offer could hike non-fuel operating costs by 450 basis points in 2023 vis-à-vis 2019. Casey Murray, a pilot and the president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said Delta's proposed deal will help it in the competition for a shrinking pool of pilots.

☆ Delta pilots are in line for huge pay rises worth billions of dollars if they agree to a new contract, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The "agreement-in-principle," seen by Reuters, still requires final approval by the Air Line Pilots Association and its members before being implemented. In October, Delta pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association voted overwhelmingly to strike. According to CNBC, the new draft agreement could help drive up pilots' pay across the industry. The Air Line Pilots Association said in a memo seen by Reuters that the proposed deal represents more than $7.2 billion of cumulative value increases over the next four years. The Air Line Pilots Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

If the deal is approved by Delta pilots, it is widely expected to act as a benchmark for contract negotiations at rivals United Airlines (UAL.O) and American Airlines (AAL.O). The Atlanta-based carrier's pilots have been working without a new contract for nearly three years after their old contract became amendable in December 2019, fueling frustration. In the draft agreement, Delta promises that pay rates of its pilots will exceed those at United and American by at least 1%. In a year of protests for the industry, pilots at all major U.S. carriers have been demanding higher wages and a better work-life balance. In its memo, Delta's pilot union said more than 25% of the value of the contract agreement is dedicated to quality-of-life related items.

☆ Delta pilots would get more than 30% in pay raises under new contract deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Delta Air Lines and its pilots' union have reached a preliminary agreement for raises topping 30% over four years, a milestone deal that could sharply drive up aviators' pay across the industry. Delta pilots voted in October to authorize a strike if a deal wasn't reached, while pilots at several airlines have picketed this year demanding contract improvements. Delta and the union were edging toward a deal in mid-November, CNBC reported. It also includes a one-time payment of 4% of 2020 and 2021 pay each, plus 14% of 2022 pay. The Delta agreement said pay rates will exceed United's and American's pay by at least 1% over the course of the agreement, which still needs union and pilot approval.

☆ How electric air taxis could shake up the airline industry in the next decade
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Mikaela Cohen | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Companies across the U.S., including several startups, are developing electric air taxis that aim to take cars off the road and put people in the sky. In October, Delta Air Lines joined the list of airlines backing EV technology startups, with a $60 million investment in Joby Aviation, a company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), intended to operate as an air taxi service. In 2021, when Joby announced its plan to launch its Uber-like air taxis by 2024, it generated criticism from industry analysts on the ability to launch by that date. One is for $15 million with Eve Air Mobility for 200 aircraft, and another for $10 million with Archer Aviation for 100 eVTOLs. Air taxis could hit markets in the 2030sWhile major airlines enter agreements with global startups, it's important to remember these are conditional.

☆ Delta Sky Club lounge access is becoming super exclusive — making the Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve cards more valuable than ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Credit Cards Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

If you've got a qualifying Amex card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express , you don't have to worry about these new rules. But they're excellent news for anyone with a flavor of The Platinum Card® from American Express or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Day passes will also increase to $50 for those with cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card charges a $550 annual fee ($145 cheaper than purchasing an annual membership).

Thankfully, there are a few ways to get around those extra fees, with more airlines offering passengers access to free Wi-Fi than ever before. Hawaiian Airlines is also planning to launch free in-flight Wi-Fi in 2023 thanks to its partnership with SpaceX's SkyLink. American Airlines also seems to be testing out free Wi-Fi on many of its aircraft that are equipped with Viasat — as part of an ongoing trial, passengers who opt to watch a sponsored video can access 30 minutes of Wi-Fi free of charge. Some international carriers offer free Wi-Fi, but with certain stipulations. Then, choose the airline's Wi-Fi network and login on the Wi-Fi homepage using your T-Mobile or Sprint phone number.

☆ Delta is making big changes to who can access its popular Sky Club airport lounges
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Medallion members can no longer access the lounge when traveling internationally in select cabins. According to Delta, starting January 1, only Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members can buy annual memberships to the Sky Club. Sky Club members flying on a basic economy ticket, as well as Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members flying internationally in Delta's Main Cabin or Comfort+ can no longer access the Sky Club, effective February 2. Access can be granted through other means, like having an eligible American Express credit card or a Club membership, according to Delta. These are huge changes for the airline, especially since anyone can currently purchase a Sky Club membership.

☆ Delta is making it harder to get into its airport lounges after they were flooded by travelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Sky Lounge during a tour of Delta Air Lines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the Queens borough of New York, US, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Photographer: Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesDelta Air Lines is making the most exclusive corners of the airport harder to get into. Starting Jan. 1, the price of an individual membership to Delta's Sky Clubs will increase from $545 or 54,500 miles to $695 or 69,500 miles. The airline recently rolled out special VIP lines for certain Sky Clubs so its most loyal customers aren't forced to wait for entry. In July, it said customers can get into Sky Clubs within three hours of their departure time, a measure aimed to avoid crowding.

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