United Airlines is making 3 big changes to MileagePlus that no one is likely to be happy about. They’re making changes to award rules, upgrades, and upgrade pricing.

Starting June 3, you’ll have to check in earlier if you want to fly United Airlines. In an internal memo, the airline stays that customers without bags will have to check in at least 45 minutes prior to their flight. The current rule is 30 minutes. If you don’t make it in time, you’ll lose your seat.

There’s now a 50,000 point initial bonus offer for the Mesa Homeowners Card after $5,000 in purchases within 3 months. Use code Bonus50 when applying.

In many ways I’m more excited for American Airlines than I have been at any time in the last dozen years. But a lot has to come to fruition to move from quick wins to sustainable improvement that translates into customer preference and economic performance. Still, this represents a huge shift in mindset from where the airline seemed to be a year ago.

Memorial Day Weekend bookings made between the end of January and mid-May are actually up 6% year-over year when looking at the Thursday-Monday of the 2024 and 2025 holidays.

Southwest Airlines starts charging for checked bags on May 28th. That’s just days away. And they still won’t say how much checked bags are going to cost! Surely the systems are already programmed (or are they?) They certainly know the pricing. They just won’t tell customers what to expect.

Airlines offer priority boarding to first class passengers and to their elite frequent flyers. They also usually offer it to uniformed military personnel, and passengers with disabilities and to families with small children. If you want to get on the plane early and don’t want to enlist in the military, I guess just keep having kids? Or pretending to?

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

Another Marriott hotel can surfaced ignoring elite member breakfast benefits.

Flight attendants will still have to ratify the deal. Pending major surprises though it seems likely, though some flight attendants will believe that they can always do better – that you should ‘never take the first deal’. However starting the click on “40% total economic improvements” in the first year along with retro pay is going to be something most crew will want right away.