Happy Wednesday. Here’s your miles, points, travel, and deals news for November 19, 2024:
Capital One DCA Landing Opens
José Andrés brings Spanish flair to Reagan National Airport with Capital One’s innovative lounge-restaurant hybrid concept, operating daily from 5 AM until 10 PM. The 5,500-square-foot space offers made-to-order small plates delivered within 20 minutes, plus interactive drink carts featuring morning mimosas, afternoon cheesecakes, and evening gin selections.
Located in Terminal 2’s National Hall near Concourse D, the venue accommodates 90 guests with restaurant-style seating and premium amenities including power outlets, high-speed WiFi, and luggage storage. Capital One Venture X cardholders receive complimentary access with one guest, while other eligible cardholders can purchase entry for $45 and non-cardholders for $90.
A separate “On the Fly” counter provides grab-and-go options including breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, and snacks, though these require additional purchase. Venture X members receive 50% off all On the Fly purchases and can reserve tables up to six months ahead through the Capital One app, with a 15-minute grace period.
The menu showcases authentic Spanish ingredients transformed into tapas, with all orders placed via QR code and delivered directly to your table. You’ll find a carefully curated beverage program alongside a full breakfast menu and lunch/dinner offerings.
A second Capital One Landing location at LaGuardia Airport will open in late 2025. This concept represents a fresh approach to airport dining, particularly suited to DCA’s short-haul traffic patterns where quick, quality dining takes priority over extended lounge stays.
Here are pictures from the lounge:
Here are the menus:
Spirit Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after $2.2 billion in losses since 2020 and a blocked JetBlue merger, securing $350 million in equity investment and eliminating $795 million in debt while maintaining operations through $300 million in debtor-in-possession funding. The transformation includes free Wi-Fi for loyalty members, complimentary refreshments, upgraded interiors, and a major route network overhaul shifting 20-30 aircraft to strategic focus cities.
Multiple challenges led to Spirit’s decline, from intense competition and soaring labor costs to grounded aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney engine inspections. The original ultra-low-cost model struggled against major carriers’ advantages in international networks, premium offerings, and credit card partnerships.
Spirit aims to emerge from bankruptcy in early 2025 with a revised strategy targeting higher-value customers through improved services and seasonal routing. The reorganization, marking the largest U.S. airline bankruptcy in over a decade, signals significant shifts in an industry where major carriers increasingly dominate both premium and budget segments.
Spirit plans operational improvements through strategic network changes, including “out and back” flying patterns and potential codeshare partnerships. The restructuring raises broader questions about standalone budget carriers’ viability in today’s aviation market.
Allegiant Launches 44-Route Summer Expansion
In a major network expansion, Allegiant Air unveils 44 new routes connecting 51 cities, including first-time service to Gulf Shores (GUF), Colorado Springs (COS), and Columbia (CAE), with operations beginning February 2024 and additional routes launching through summer.
From Sarasota Bradenton (SRQ): Albany, NY; Elmira/Corning, NY; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Knoxville, TN; Lexington, KY; Moline, IL; Omaha, NE; Roanoke, VA
From Gulf Shores (GUF): Belleville/St. Louis, IL; Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR; Cincinnati, KY; Houston Hobby, TX; Kansas City, MO; Knoxville, TN
From Portland (PDX): Fresno, CA; Cincinnati, KY; Flint, MI; Indianapolis, IN
From Washington Dulles (IAD): Savannah, GA; Knoxville, TN; Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL; Asheville, NC
From Colorado Springs (COS): Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Santa Ana/Orange County, CA; St. Petersburg, FL
From Myrtle Beach (MYR): Grand Rapids, MI; Niagara Falls, NY; Plattsburgh, NY
Additional Routes: Akron-Canton (CAK) to Jacksonville, FL and Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL; Boston (BOS) to Des Moines, IA and Savannah, GA; Columbia (CAE) to Fort Lauderdale, FL and Orlando Sanford, FL; Denver (DEN) to Idaho Falls, ID and Stockton, CA; Des Moines (DSM) to Jacksonville, FL and Boston, MA; Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Huntington, WV and Columbia, SC; Grand Rapids (GRR) to Myrtle Beach, SC and Jacksonville, FL; Chattanooga (CHA) to Punta Gorda (PGD); Nashville (BNA) to Shreveport (SHV); Newark (EWR) to Flint (FNT); Phoenix (PHX) to Pittsburgh (PIT); Spokane (GEG) to Los Angeles (LAX).
Trump Taps Duffy For Transport Chief
Sean Duffy’s nomination as Transportation Secretary signals a potential shift in airline industry oversight, bringing experience from Congress, district attorney work, and media roles. The nomination suggests reduced DOT intervention in airline operations, contrasting with Pete Buttigieg’s active regulatory approach.
Duffy’s Congressional background includes infrastructure projects and financial services, indicating familiarity with transportation funding mechanisms. His House Financial Services Committee role provided significant exposure to economic policy and government oversight.
Previous administrations maintained consistent approaches to major aviation decisions across party lines. This appointment could reduce the DOT’s involvement in airline consolidation and loyalty programs.
Deals and Points News
Alaska Gift Card Deal: Costco is selling $500 Alaska Airlines gift cards for $449.99 in-store only, offering a 10% discount with no expiration date or travel restrictions.
IHG Points Sale: Through December 13, 2024, IHG One Rewards is offering up to 100% bonus on purchased points when buying at least 5,000 points, bringing the cost down to 0.5 cents per point. Members can purchase up to 300,000 points before bonuses during this promotion (increased from the usual 150,000 points annual cap).
IHG Cyber Sale: Early access through November 19 offers IHG members 25% off worldwide bookings via the app only, plus 500 bonus points for first-time app downloads through December 31, 2024. Starting November 20, the sale expands to all booking channels with members saving 25% and non-members 17% on stays through April 30, 2025, while Iberostar Beachfront Resorts offer up to 40% off for stays through December 20, 2025.
Choice Points Bonus: Choice Privileges is offering their largest-ever points purchase bonus of 60% extra when buying 10,000+ points through December 13, 2024, while simultaneously increasing the annual points purchase limit to 250,000 points (up from 180,000). When purchasing the maximum amount of 250,000 points under this promotion, the cost works out to 0.64 cents per point, with higher rates applying to smaller purchases due to Choice’s tiered pricing structure.
Travel and Other News
Delta Adds Shake Shack: Delta will introduce Shake Shack cheeseburgers in domestic first class starting December 1, 2024, from Boston on flights over 900 miles, with expansion to other US markets throughout 2025, featuring 100% Angus beef patties on toasted potato buns along with customizable toppings, chips, caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie. Passengers will need to pre-select the burger option between 24 hours and seven days before departure, marking Delta’s first partnership of this kind with a major burger chain.
WestJet Expands Summer Routes: WestJet will launch 11 new routes for Summer 2025, including their first Calgary to Anchorage service plus new flights from Calgary to Raleigh/Durham and Minneapolis, Edmonton to Chicago, Vancouver to Boston and Tampa, and transatlantic service from St. John’s to Paris and Dublin. The airline will increase network capacity by 10% with over 3,000 weekly departures across 41 Canadian airports, featuring comprehensive flight schedules for all new domestic, transborder, and transatlantic routes.
New Travel Portal Debuts: U.S. Bank has partnered with Booking.com to launch a new travel center offering cardholders access to 2.4 million properties worldwide, along with flights and rental cars through Rocket Travel by Agoda, featuring 24/7 service and same-day booking capabilities. The platform includes booking fees of $6.99 per passenger for domestic flights and $10.99 for international flights, while offering special travel discounts, cash-back deals, merchant offers, and integration with Paze℠ secure checkout.
