Happy Monday. Here’s your miles, points, travel, and deals news for December 16, 2024:
Freedom Cards Reveal Q1 2025 Categories
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can now register for first-quarter bonus categories spanning January through March 2025. The 5X bonus categories include
- Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
- Norwegian Cruise Line purchases
- Fitness clubs and gym memberships
- Hair, nail, and spa services.
Each card allows you to earn up to 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points by spending $1,500 in these categories during the quarter. You’ll need to activate these rewards by March 14, 2025 to qualify for the bonus earnings.
Additionally, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders will earn 5x points on insurance payments and tax preparation services in March 2025 as part of the Freedom card’s 15th birthday celebration, though spending caps and activation requirements remain unclear. (HT: DoC)
LOT Opens Chicago O'Hare Lounge
LOT Polish Airlines debuts its first international lounge at Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 on December 19, 2024, featuring a modern 6,642-square-foot space with amenities including shower suites, bar service, and buffet dining.
The lounge will accommodate 165 guests and boasts contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling windows, positioned conveniently past security near the food court. This strategic location serves LOT’s daily flights to Warsaw and Krakow while providing access to Star Alliance premium passengers from partner airlines like Austrian, EVA Air, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
The new lounge significantly upgrades Terminal 5’s limited premium options, particularly since Scandinavian Airlines’ move to SkyTeam left Star Alliance travelers with fewer choices.
Frontier Cuts 40+ Routes Nationwide
In a significant network restructuring, Frontier Airlines has announced the elimination of more than 40 routes across its system, marking one of the largest single route reductions in recent airline history. This strategic move primarily affects routes where Frontier competed directly with major legacy carriers at their hub airports. For passengers, this means fewer low-cost options on many domestic routes and the complete loss of service in some markets.
Atlanta loses six routes beginning January 2024, impacting connections to Grand Rapids, Long Island, Minneapolis (ends January 6), New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. Minneapolis marks the final remaining route to end.
Dallas/Fort Worth sees seven routes eliminated: Jacksonville, Nashville, Omaha, Pittsburgh, and Sacramento have already ended. San Juan service stops January 6, while St. Louis flights conclude January 5.
Cleveland faces significant cuts with six route cancellations including Baltimore, Charlotte (ends January 6), Houston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Raleigh-Durham (ends January 6). Four routes have already stopped operating.
Cincinnati loses connections to Houston (ends December 16), Minneapolis, New York LaGuardia (ends January 6), and Philadelphia. Key business markets Minneapolis and Philadelphia have already ceased operations.
Denver drops service to Columbus (ends January 5), Grand Rapids (ends January 6), LaGuardia (ends January 6), and Syracuse. Only Syracuse flights have already ended, with the remaining routes continuing through early January.
Ontario, California sees four routes eliminated: Phoenix (already ended), Portland (ends February 10), Sacramento (ends January 6), and Salt Lake City (ends February 9). Phoenix was the first route cut.
Raleigh-Durham faces the most extensive cuts with nine routes ending: Buffalo (January 6), both Chicago airports, Cincinnati, Hartford, Indianapolis (January 5), New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. Most services have already ended except Buffalo and Indianapolis.
Philadelphia loses Detroit, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh routes – all of which have already ended operations. Charlotte drops its San Juan service on January 6.
Deals and Points News
Southwest Elite Status Sale: Through December 30, 2024, Rapid Rewards members can purchase A-List qualifying points starting at $175 for 1,000 points up to $2,190 for 35,000 points, though a minimum of 3,000 existing points is required to participate. Given the high cost and limited benefits package of priority boarding, 25% points bonus, and same-day flight changes, members would be better off earning status through flying or credit card spending, or simply purchasing Early-Bird Check-In for specific flights.
Travel and Other News
Southwest Adds Eight Routes: Southwest Airlines will launch eight new domestic routes in August 2025, including four from Orlando with service to Los Angeles, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Sarasota, plus routes connecting Austin-San Francisco, Nashville-Louisville, Indianapolis-Chicago Midway, and Phoenix-Santa Barbara. Most routes will operate daily except Phoenix-Santa Barbara (Sundays only) and Nashville-Louisville (six days weekly, excluding Saturdays), with the Orlando-Sarasota route being notably short at just 104 miles.
New Maui Lounge Opens: Hawaiian Airlines has launched its second Premier Club lounge at Kahului Airport (OGG), adding 1,175 square feet of space with capacity for 36 guests and operating daily from 9:30 to 15:30 across from Gate 15. The facility features local snacks, WiFi, and charging stations, and is accessible to Premier Club members, Pualani status holders, and first class travelers, with Priority Pass access coming later.
Qatar Returns To Canberra: Qatar Airways will resume daily flights between Canberra and Doha via Melbourne starting December 2025, operating Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with Q-suite Business Class and complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for all passengers. The service will connect Canberra to Qatar’s network of over 170 destinations through Hamad International Airport, while also strengthening the airline’s partnership with Virgin Australia and offering reciprocal benefits for Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Velocity Frequent Flyer members.
