Hello again, and happy Veterans Day. A big thank-you to everyone who has served.

I just returned from a whirlwind five hours on the ground in Virginia, where I joined scores of government officials, airline and airport employees, and others to unveil the all-new Concourse E at Dulles International Airport (IAD).

More on what I saw — and what I learned from United’s chief commercial officer — below.

There’s plenty more to get to, too.

(One programming note: Since our second daughter was born, I’m easing back into a three-times-weekly cadence. When our two-week-old eats and sleeps well, so do I. When she doesn’t, I might run a bit behind. But if the news is big enough, you’ll always hear from me.)

Advertiser and Editorial Disclosure

I just found a better way to track all my credit cards, benefits, and perks.

It’s a free Credit Card Benefit Tracker from Thrifty Traveler that lets you add more than 120 travel cards, see every benefit in one place, and check them off as you use them.

It has a few advanced features, too, like tracking cards for your whole household and monitoring your points and miles balances.

Historically, I’ve used a spreadsheet and Apple Notes, but cards keep getting more and more complex, so I’ve been looking for something more streamlined.

The good news: No bank login or card number is required (great for privacy). The downside is that you have to update everything manually.

Still, it’s well worth the few minutes it takes to set up.

At long last, United has a new hub concourse at Dulles.

The concourse itself is a big step up from anything else at the airport. But the biggest upgrade is the new 40,000-square-foot United Club — the nicest one United has ever built.

Most of United’s new-era clubs feel like spacious Brooklyn warehouses, with open ceilings and tons of furniture.

This one feels elevated and localized (just look at the entryway), and floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light.

The dining could still use some “Deltafication,” as I’m calling it — think more elevated food with better presentation. Still, this is as good as it gets for United.

In fact, I’ve been so impressed by United’s new lounges that I’ve started telling United flyers to seriously consider the United Club℠ Card.

The card includes unlimited United Club access. And with the clubs getting nicer and bigger, you don’t have to worry about overcrowding the way you would at a credit card-branded lounge.

It’s part of a bigger shift. Holding a United card now gets you:

I have more to share on why practically every United flyer has no choice but to hold a cobranded card now — even a more basic one, like the United℠ Explorer Card or United Quest℠ Card.

Right now, the Explorer card is a no-brainer if you don’t need lounge access. It’s offering its highest-ever welcome bonus of up to 80,000 bonus miles:

Better yet, there’s a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 thereafter.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, hit reply.

(Quick note: If you grab one of the United cards through my affiliate links above, I’ll earn a small commission that keeps this newsletter free. I sincerely appreciate you using them!)

United’s chief commercial officer, Andrew Nocella, just shared five noteworthy updates about what’s coming to the airline. Here’s what I learned:

The next airline to install first class will be… Frontier.

Yes, you read that right. It’s the latest play by a discount carrier to win over premium travelers.

True to its roots, Frontier won’t offer free food or drinks in first class, and the seats won’t recline. (They’re “ergonomically pre-reclined” in PR lingo.)

That said, the seats will have USB-C ports, and Frontier’s jets will soon get Starlink Wi-Fi — a big upgrade if you’re trying to stay connected.

Frontier expects to complete the fleetwide retrofit by March 5, 2027. First-class tickets are on sale now, and they’re probably the best deal in the sky, especially since the first-class bundle includes two checked bags.

The rollout reminds me of what I miss most about Spirit Airlines: the Big Front Seat.

Meet Atmos Global Concierge, Alaska Airlines’ new invite-only status tier.

The carrier isn’t publishing how you qualify (presumably high-value flyers and key corporate decision-makers will get the nod). Perks include a dedicated concierge, next-flight availability, a higher spot on the upgrade waitlist, and more.

Alaska is doing whatever it takes to become a major global airline, and invite-only tiers have worked well for American (Concierge Key), Delta (Delta 360°), and United (Global Services).

Of course, Alaska is a bit different, since its most frequent flyers are based on the West Coast and in Hawaii. I assume it’s going after its top flyers in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, and Honolulu.

If you’re invited to Atmos Global Concierge — or any other invite-only tier — let me know what it’s like.

Yesterday, I ran into a friend as I was leaving LaGuardia Airport (LGA). He was puzzled that I was heading out from the departures level.

I explained that there’s much less traffic up there, so I always ask drivers to pick me up at departures.

Too many cars stall on the arrivals level waiting for pickups, and goodness knows the rideshare garages can be mayhem.

Using these links is the easiest way to support FTTT — and I only recommend what I actually use.

From the Tray Table is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear. From the Tray Table may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. Not all financial companies or all available offers are included. The opinions expressed are mine alone. Content is not reviewed or endorsed by an entity.