✈️ Frequent Miler Traffic Up 36%, United Passengers Swiping Glassware, and the Perfect Two-Card Strategy

Hello, miles and points enthusiasts! I'm Lucas, and welcome to another episode of Miles & Points Daily Podcast. It's a beautiful day to talk travel hacking, and I've got some juicy stories for you today. From ranking shifts in the points and miles world to travelers helping themselves to airline souvenirs, and some creative ways to maximize your credit card strategy – we've got it all! First up, let's talk about the shifting landscape in our miles and points community. According to a recent report on View from the Wing, March two thousand and twenty-five has seen some significant changes in frequent flyer site traffic rankings. Frequent Miler has jumped up an impressive thirty-six percent, while The Points Guy has seen a twenty-one percent decline. Doctor of Credit has managed to hold steady despite the shifting sands. It's interesting to see these changes, and it might reflect how people are consuming their miles and points content these days. Speaking of maximizing value, Gary Leff at View from the Wing has outlined what he calls the master two-card strategy for smart travelers. The approach focuses on combining cards that offer more than one point per dollar on everyday spending, and importantly, allow point combining across different reward programs. This is something I've personally found very effective – pairing a strong everyday earning card with a premium card that offers transfer options and travel benefits. Now, let's shift to something a bit more... let's say morally questionable. It seems United Airlines passengers have been taking home more than just their luggage. A United flyer admitted on social media to taking a glass off a flight to use at home, which sparked a conversation about items passengers swipe from airlines. According to a flight attendant quoted in the article, they often only notice missing glassware during landing preparation, and their advice was to 'take whatever you want as long as it doesn't shatter during landing.' Another employee mentioned having multiple Polaris blankets from non-revenue flights up front. While I'm not encouraging this behavior, it does seem surprisingly common! Taking things to another level, a Delta Sky Club guest was spotted filling three plates with ribs, garlic chicken, and cookies—then dumping them into a bag for his flight. Now, most of us know the unwritten rule of buffets is that you can eat all you want while you're there, but packing food to go is generally frowned upon. This behavior might be part of why lounges are increasingly restricting access and raising requirements. Speaking of airline mishaps, it seems British Airways' IT struggles have reached a new low. Their chatbot apparently doesn't even know where Heathrow Airport is! This comes after years of IT failures at the airline. Perhaps a reminder that the human touch is still valuable in customer service. On a more heartwarming note, an American Airlines gate agent recently gave what was described as an 'epic pep talk' to passengers, essentially begging travelers to be nice during delays. Flight disruptions are frustrating for everyone, but it's worth remembering that gate agents are there to help, not create the problems. Some exciting developments in the aircraft cabin space – Airbus has unveiled a jaw-dropping first class 'Master Suite' concept for the A350-1000. While it looks incredible, the question remains whether any airline will actually implement such a luxurious design. On a more practical note, Airbus A220s will be getting the Airspace cabin treatment, including bigger overhead bins – always a welcome improvement for travelers. Delta has become the first US airline to report its quarterly financial results for Q1 two thousand and twenty-five, and they're warning of some uncertainty ahead. Interestingly, they've also criticized former President Trump in their statements, a relatively rare political stance for a major carrier. In hotel news, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta has unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation with new restaurants and redesigned rooms. This popular all-inclusive property in Mexico is a favorite for points redemptions, and these improvements make it an even more attractive option. For our deals section: Alaska Airlines is offering a sixty percent bonus when you buy miles, bringing the cost down to about one point eight five cents per mile. This can be a great deal if you're planning premium cabin redemptions on Alaska or their partners. Avianca LifeMiles is also running a promotion with up to one hundred thirty-five percent bonus, bringing the cost down to one point four cents per mile. Again, potentially very valuable for premium cabin awards. For those of you interested in hotel points, Hilton is offering a one hundred percent bonus when buying points, effectively meaning you can purchase Hilton points for zero point five cents each – potentially a great deal for high-value redemptions. For credit card enthusiasts, there's been a lot of comparison between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. If you're trying to decide between mid-tier and premium travel cards, it really comes down to your travel patterns and spending habits. The Reserve has higher benefits but also comes with a higher annual fee, so you need to make sure you'll use those benefits enough to offset the cost. Looking for a status shortcut? Alaska Airlines has launched an interesting promotion where you can earn MVP status with just one round trip flight from the continental US to Sydney or Auckland. This could be a great opportunity if you've been eyeing Alaska status. Before I wrap up, let me share a quick ad. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes. That's all for today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast! Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, happy travels and even happier point collecting!