Here’s your miles, points, travel, and deals news:
Citi Launches 3 Transfer Bonuses
Citi ThankYou has launched three simultaneous transfer bonuses running through October 18, 2025, targeting Avianca LifeMiles (25% bonus), Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (50% bonus), and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (30% bonus).
Premium cardholders with Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Prestige, or AT&T Access More cards receive enhanced conversion rates of 1,000 points to 1,250 Avianca miles, 1,500 Turkish miles, or 1,300 Virgin Atlantic miles, while other cardholders get slightly lower ratios.
You should only transfer points if you have specific redemption plans within the next few months, as keeping points in Citi allows for future conversion flexibility when needed.
Alaska’s Huge San Diego Lounge
Alaska Airlines announced plans for a massive 13,000 square foot lounge at San Diego International Airport, making it one of the largest lounge spaces at the airport with construction beginning in early 2027.
The premium space will feature Signature Loungers, private work areas, locally inspired food and drinks, a full bar with signature cocktails, and a barista station for handcrafted espresso beverages as part of Alaska’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment across their network.
Spirit Cuts Third of Crew
Spirit Airlines will furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants starting December 1st – roughly one-third of its 5,200-person crew – as part of drastic cost-cutting measures during its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a year.
The budget carrier is simultaneously slashing its flight schedule by 25% year-over-year starting in November, furloughing 270 pilots on November 1st, downgrading 140 captains to first officers on October 1st, and selling spare aircraft and airport gates to stabilize its finances.
Spirit’s comprehensive restructuring includes moving away from its traditional point-to-point model toward increased connectivity while pulling out of certain mid-size domestic markets, as the airline lost $246 million in the second quarter compared to $193 million during the same period last year.
Rove Miles 20% Transfer Bonuses
Rove Miles just dropped two compelling 20% transfer bonuses that let you stretch your miles further when moving them to airline partners.
You can transfer to Air France/KLM Flying Blue through October 22, 2025, or to Finnair Plus through December 31, 2025, with a minimum transfer of 2,000 Rove Miles and additional transfers in 100-mile increments.
Icelandair Cuts Detroit Flights
Icelandair will suspend all flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport starting January 2026, with the final departure scheduled for January 6, 2026.
The Detroit route launched in 2023 as a seasonal service but struggled with a 79% load factor in 2024, making it the carrier’s second-weakest performing US destination despite Icelandair’s broader expansion across America with new routes to Nashville and Miami.
Cathay Returns to Seattle
Cathay Pacific will restart nonstop flights between Seattle and Hong Kong starting March 30, 2026, operating five times weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays using an Airbus A350-900 with economy, premium economy, and business class cabins.
The Hong Kong-based carrier previously operated this route in 2019 and briefly in 2020 before COVID-19 disruptions, and tickets are already on sale with rare business class award availability currently bookable through Asia Miles, American AAdvantage, and Alaska Atmos Rewards programs.
This Seattle service marks Cathay Pacific’s 10th North American destination, joining existing routes to Boston, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York JFK, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver.
LATAM Orders 74 Embraers
LATAM just placed an order for up to 74 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, including 24 firm orders and 50 options, with the first deliveries expected in the second half of 2026 and the deal valued at up to $2.1 billion at list prices.
The E195-E2 seats 120-146 passengers in a comfortable 2-2 configuration with no middle seats, flies up to 2,600 nautical miles, and delivers 30% lower fuel consumption per seat compared to previous generation models.
LATAM Brazil will initially operate these aircraft to serve up to 35 new destinations that become economically viable with this plane’s superior economics, while likely replacing the carrier’s aging Airbus A319 fleet.
Typhoon Closes Hong Kong Airport
Hong Kong International Airport will shut down all passenger flights for an unprecedented 36 hours from September 23 evening through September 25, forcing Cathay Pacific to cancel over 500 flights as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches with 143 mph winds.
You’ll want to check your travel plans if you’re flying through Hong Kong during this period, as Cathay Pacific is waiving all refund charges for tickets issued before September 21 for flights between September 23-25.
SAS Summer 2026 Expansion
SAS just announced its largest summer expansion ever with nine new routes and six new destinations, delivering a 20% increase in seat capacity from Copenhagen and 50% more connecting opportunities for travelers.
You can now book flights from Copenhagen to Bordeaux (2x weekly starting May 15), Istanbul (daily starting March 26), Luxembourg (2x daily starting March 9), Marseille (2x weekly starting June 22), Mumbai (5x weekly starting June 2), Riga (3x daily starting March 8), and Visby (3x weekly starting June 22), plus new service from Oslo to Hamburg (2x weekly starting March 30) and Stockholm to Madrid (2x weekly starting March 29).
KLM Strike Cancels Morning Flights
KLM ground staff will strike Wednesday, September 24 from 6 AM to 12 PM, forcing the airline to cancel around 120 flights during those six hours, plus additional departures and arrivals outside that window due to return rotation impacts that could affect Thursday flights as well.
