Hello and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and today we've got some fascinating developments in the world of miles and points to dive into. From policy changes that could have affected your wallet to new lounges, surprising airline decisions, and some pretty wild Wi-Fi updates. But first, let me tell you about a tool that could save you serious points on your next hotel stay. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for less points. It's like having a personal assistant watching your reservations around the clock, making sure you're getting the best deal possible. Now, let's jump into today's news. We're starting with some disappointing policy news. The Biden administration had proposed requiring airlines to pay passengers cash compensation for flight delays and cancellations, similar to Europe's excellent EU two six one regulations. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has just killed this effort entirely. For miles and points enthusiasts, this means we're back to relying on airline goodwill and credit card protections when flights go sideways. My recommendation? Make sure you're using a premium travel credit card with strong trip delay and cancellation coverage. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum can provide the protection the government won't mandate. Speaking of Wi-Fi, we've got some interesting developments on that front. Southwest Airlines is finally adding free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members starting October twenty-fourth, which sounds great until you realize their current Wi-Fi is reportedly slower than Spirit's. That's saying something! On the flip side, JetBlue is making moves to partner with Amazon's Project Kuiper for Wi-Fi that's supposed to be faster than Starlink, though passengers won't see this upgrade for years. For Southwest flyers, my tip is to still expect limited connectivity, but hey, free is free. For premium cabin seekers, here's a controversial new policy from Emirates. They've banned young children from first class when redeeming miles. This policy only applies to award bookings, not paid tickets. While some passengers might celebrate this move, families using their hard-earned miles for that once-in-a-lifetime first-class experience won't be thrilled. If you're planning a family trip in Emirates first class, you'll need to pay cash, not points. Let's talk about some exciting lounge news. Air France is opening a new lounge at Miami International Airport, complete with an outdoor terrace. As someone who's spent time at Miami's less-than-stellar terminal facilities, this is welcome news. The lounge should provide Sky Team elite members and premium cabin passengers with a much-needed respite from the chaos that is Miami International. Alaska Airlines is also enhancing their lounge experience with the new Atmos Rewards Elevated Bar Program. This perk comes with the new Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card, which has been generating quite a buzz among points enthusiasts for its compelling benefits package. United Airlines is making some aggressive moves, adding fifteen new destinations for winter while specifically targeting Spirit's routes during their bankruptcy proceedings. They're even reviving some previously cancelled routes as part of this expansion. While this gives travelers more options, it's worth noting that United is being quite open about their anticompetitive strategy. For award travelers, more routes could mean more award availability, so keep an eye on United's expanded network for potential sweet spots. In international expansion news, United is also planning three routes to Tel Aviv, Israel, as the security situation stabilizes. Alaska Airlines continues their ambitious global expansion from Seattle, now planning Iceland flights using the Boeing seven thirty-seven MAX. This narrow-body transatlantic service continues the trend we're seeing of airlines using smaller aircraft for longer routes, potentially opening up new award routing opportunities. Finally, in some lighter news, American Airlines had to cancel a Rome to Dallas flight because they sent the wrong type of aircraft to Rome. The crew, passengers, and gate were all ready, but the plane couldn't make the journey. It's a reminder of how complex airline operations are and why having flexible award bookings and backup plans is always wise. For today's travel credit card tip, remember that premium cards often provide the protections that airlines and the government won't guarantee. Whether it's trip delay coverage, baggage protection, or lounge access during lengthy delays, the right card can turn travel disasters into minor inconveniences. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the show notes. That wraps up today's miles and points news. Thanks for listening to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, keep earning those points and miles, and happy travels!