Hello from NYC! I hope you had a great weekend.
For the first time this summer, the weather cooperated on both Saturday and Sunday, so we spent most of it outdoors. (My iPhone spent most of its weekend playing "Hop Little Bunnies" on repeat to satisfy my daughter's latest obsession.)
I’ve got a rare week without any travel planned, though there’s a special family trip on the calendar for next weekend.
One final reminder before we dive in: the 100,000-point welcome offer on the fan-favorite credit card ends Thursday, July 30, at 3 p.m. ET. If you’ve been on the fence, there isn’t much time left — and if you’ve got questions about the offer, hit reply.
With that out of the way, here's everything going on. And don’t miss today’s tip at the bottom — it's the fastest way I know to get an airline to take your complaint seriously.
📋 In this edition
Last call for FoundersCard
(Note: this is a paid partnership.)
This is your last call for a free six-month trial to FoundersCard. The offer ends July 31.
I’ve used mine over the past few months for suite upgrades, automatic hotel status, airline discounts across 18 carriers, and a handful of lifestyle perks.
The perks stack on top of your credit cards rather than replace them.
It’s not for everyone. If you rarely travel and don’t need the perks, skip it. But if you’re the kind of person who reads this newsletter every week, the math probably works.
The preview is free for six months through my link, which is the lowest-risk way to find out.
United cuts 10 routes before takeoff
United is dropping 10 Chicago routes — before any of them even launched. The affected destinations from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) include:
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Erie, Pennsylvania
Kalamazoo, Michigan
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Lansing, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Rochester, Minnesota
Tri-Cities, Tennessee
Wausau, Wisconsin
United says the cuts are due to the extension of the FAA’s flight schedule cap at O’Hare, now in place through October 2027.
A few thoughts:
United and American have been locked in a bitter turf war in Chicago. They kept adding flights until it was clear neither would be the outright winner — and then the FAA stepped in and saved them both from a pile of unprofitable flying.
For travelers, the cap is welcome news. Between the construction at O’Hare and an already packed schedule, taxi times there are the longest in the country. (I always joke that when you fly to ORD, you land in Milwaukee and taxi to Chicago.)
The cap lets airlines choose which routes to cut, and it’s no surprise that small regional markets took the hit instead of bigger cities on mainline jets. Yet another example of regional connectivity losing out.
Starbucks miles are back
Back by popular demand, you can once again earn Delta SkyMiles on every Starbucks purchase.
The rollout begins Aug. 5, and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent at participating Starbucks outposts.
That replaces the current setup, which only awarded miles on Starbucks reloads of $25 or more. (Back when the tie-up was first announced in 2022, you could earn 1 mile per $1 spent.)
The one catch: you need to have flown a qualifying Delta flight in the previous 12 months. (Everyone with linked accounts can earn through Oct. 5, 2026, regardless of flight activity.)
Delta's JFK pullback
Delta is dropping three destinations from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK):
Houston
Memphis
St. Louis
Delta will still fly to all three cities from nearby LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — up to four times a day — but anyone who prefers JFK, or who wants to connect to Delta’s transatlantic flights there, is out of luck.
It remains to be seen how Delta will reallocate the slots it used for these flights. (Since JFK is capacity-controlled, the FAA requires airlines to use their slots or risk forfeiting them.)
Heathrow’s newest standout
I stopped by the newest lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) last week, and it’s already one of the best in the airport.
The Air France Lounge in Terminal 4 isn’t big — just over 8,000 square feet, with room for 150 travelers — but it packs in floor-to-ceiling windows, a Clarins spa with complimentary treatments, relaxation pods, a proper bar, and showers.
If you’re flying SkyTeam out of Terminal 4, it’s worth showing up early.
💡 Tray Table Tip: How to make an airline listen
I’ve gotten a bunch of emails lately from readers with airline complaints.
While I’d love to help, escalating doesn't usually start with your favorite travel reporter.
Instead, you should head to the Department of Transportation. If you’ve already gone to the airline directly and have gotten nowhere, filing a consumer complaint with the DOT is your next move.
The DOT forwards every complaint to the airline for a response, and because it arrives through a federal agency, a more empowered agent tends to review your case.
You’ll get a formal reply from the airline, and the DOT uses what you submit to track compliance with consumer protection rules.
🗞️ News you can use
Marriott goes outdoorsy: I love an outdoor-focused trip, and the first property in the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy is now taking points reservations. That’s RESET Hotel Joshua Tree National Park, which, based on the photos, looks like a solid base for a park trip. Always compare cash rates first, but earning Bonvoy points on stays like this is welcome news.
Air France starts charging for suites: Air France now charges a fee to pick front-row business-class suites on U.S. routes. The airline had carved the U.S. market out of these seat fees until now — and the timing, right as Delta rolls out basic fares in long-haul premium cabins, doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
🔗 Links to use
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