Here’s your miles, points, travel, and deals news for today:
Air Canada Flights Resume Today
Air Canada will gradually restart operations this evening after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, ending the flight attendant strike that shut down the airline since Saturday, August 16.
The settlement requires all 10,000 striking flight attendants to return to work immediately, though specific contract details won’t be revealed until the ratification process completes.
You can expect significant disruptions to continue for 7-10 days as aircraft and crew need to be repositioned, meaning some flights will still be canceled during this stabilization period.
Only passengers with confirmed bookings showing as “operating” should head to the airport, while those on canceled flights can receive full refunds, credits, or rebooking on other airlines.
The four-day shutdown represents one of the messier labor disputes at a major airline in recent years, with the union initially defying government orders to return to work through binding arbitration.
Frontier Offers $69 Elite Status
Frontier Airlines launched a promotion allowing members of Southwest Rapid Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Spirit Free Spirit, or Alaska Mileage Plan to purchase Elite Gold status for $69, with benefits valid through December 2026.
You don’t need elite status with those programs – just basic membership in any of the four loyalty programs, and you must have joined Southwest Rapid Rewards before August 19, 2025.
The Gold status includes one free carry-on bag, Zone 1 priority boarding, free preferred seat selection, complimentary upgrades to UpFront Plus seating, and 14x miles earning on Frontier purchases.
Aviator Red 70K Bonus
Barclays is offering 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® after making just one purchase within the first 90 days, though you’ll pay a $99 annual fee that’s not waived.
The card earns 1x miles per dollar on all purchases and 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, plus benefits like Group 1 boarding, free first checked bag for you and up to four companions, and a $99 companion certificate after spending $20,000 annually.
Barclays typically approves only one card every six months and may follow a 6/24 rule, though you can apply for multiple cards on the same day to combine hard pulls into a single inquiry.
Southwest Launches Vacation Platform
Southwest Airlines debuted Getaways by Southwest, a new vacation booking platform that lets customers bundle flights with hotels, rental cars, and ground transportation while earning 5 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent.
The platform initially covers over 30 destinations including Las Vegas, Hawaii, Cancun, Punta Cana, Orlando, and Montego Bay, though Southwest CEO Bob Jordan previously indicated the service will eventually expand to long-haul international destinations through the airline’s growing partner network.
Customers who book flights through Getaways receive two free checked bags (reverting to Southwest’s former policy) and travel credits valid for 18 months if they need to cancel, though you can’t currently redeem Rapid Rewards points for these packages.
Marriott 40% Bonus Purchase Deal
Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 40% bonus on purchased points through September 17, 2025, reducing the cost to 0.89 cents per point when you buy at least 2,000 points in a single transaction.
You can purchase up to 150,000 points during this promotion (50% higher than the usual 100,000 annual limit), and with the bonus, you’d receive 210,000 total points for $1,875.
Amex Adds Welcome Bonus Tracker
American Express has quietly rolled out a new welcome bonus tracker that appears in cardholders’ online accounts after approval for cards with signup bonuses.
The tracker displays essential details including offer terms, current spending progress, remaining spending requirements, and the expiration date for meeting the bonus requirements.
