✈️ Lufthansa's $1,380 Business Class Seat Selection & United's Bangkok Teaser

Hello and welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast! I'm your host Lucas, and today we're diving into all the latest and greatest travel news that matters to you. It's April 2nd, 2025, and we've got plenty to cover, so let's jump right in!

First up, if you're planning to fly Lufthansa Business Class anytime soon, you might want to brace yourself for some extra fees. According to Gary Leff at View from the Wing, Lufthansa has officially launched what he calls "Allegri$$ Day." The airline now has five different seat types within their business class cabin, and if you want to choose where you sit, you could be looking at up to one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars more just to sit together with your travel companion. That's right - same cabin, same service, but potentially a very different price. So if you're booking Lufthansa business, make sure to factor this into your budgeting.

In other airline news, Ben Schlappig from One Mile at a Time reports that United Airlines is teasing some new routes, and Bangkok might be on the cards! United already has the most interesting route network of any US carrier, flying to more destinations and countries than any other American airline. If you're a route enthusiast like me, this is definitely something to keep an eye on. United loves letting the public guess their new destinations, so feel free to play along!

Speaking of United, they've apparently been making some quiet changes to their fees. According to View from the Wing, while United's CEO led the industry in eliminating change fees a few years ago, they've quietly raised some fees in other areas. And in a particularly frustrating move for travelers, United has been charging extra for carry-on bags, then still confiscating them anyway. Passengers are understandably upset when they pay a higher fare specifically to bring a carry-on, only to have it gate-checked when there's still overhead bin space available. Not cool, United, not cool at all.

There's also some interesting lounge news today. SkyTeam alliance has implemented some changes to their lounge access rules starting today. One Mile at a Time reports these changes include modifications to domestic access and a new three-hour rule. It's a bit of a mixed bag for travelers, so if you're a frequent SkyTeam flyer, you'll want to familiarize yourself with these new policies.

One of the more bizarre pieces of news comes from Fort Lauderdale, where a woman undressed at a Spirit Airlines gate, ending up topless in her underwear before police intervened. According to Gary Leff, the incident occurred at gate G12, where the passenger removed most of her clothing but kept her black shoes on. She appeared to be arguing with a male travel companion who tried to give her back her outfit before a police officer eventually stepped in. Just another day in the wild world of air travel, folks!

On a more practical note, if you're a coffee lover like me, you might appreciate Gary Leff's piece about how to start every travel day right. He argues that travelers deserve better than hotel pod coffee and airline sludge. As someone who used to joke that my blood could be filtered for caffeine byproducts to run alternative fuel experiments, I couldn't agree more. Good coffee can make all the difference when you're on the road.

In credit card news, Gary Leff has a review of the Capital One Venture card. This card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, which makes it a solid choice for spending that doesn't earn bigger bonuses with other cards. It has the same primary earn rate and redemption options as the premium Venture X card but at a lower annual fee. If you're looking to simplify your credit card strategy, this might be worth considering.

The Chase Freedom Flex has announced its Q2 2025 bonus categories, and it's time to register! Ben Schlappig from One Mile at a Time recommends registering as soon as possible to maximize your points earning. These quarterly bonus categories are a great way to boost your rewards without paying an annual fee.

There are also several transfer bonuses available right now. American Express is offering a 20% bonus when transferring points to both Etihad Guest and Aeromexico Rewards through April 30th. Meanwhile, Chase is offering an 80% bonus when transferring Ultimate Rewards points to IHG, though Ben notes this isn't necessarily the most exciting transfer opportunity.

In hotel news, Marriott has launched a rather unusual program that Gary Leff describes with the old bathroom adage: "If it's yellow, let it mellow." The global hotel chain is now encouraging guests to flush in-room toilets less frequently, and you can even earn Marriott points for skipping flushes. While the environmental intentions may be good, I'm not sure how many travelers will be eager to participate in this particular points-earning opportunity!

And if you're planning a trip to Tokyo, you'll soon have a new luxury option. The Points Guy reports that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will open its first-ever property in Japan this summer. The Fairmont Tokyo will feature 217 rooms and suites high in the sky on floors 36 through 42, with a stunning 65-foot infinity pool. Reservations are already open for stays beginning July 1st.

If you're a Hyatt loyalist looking for more points-earning opportunities, Stephen Pepper from Frequent Miler reports that Hyatt is running a new promotion offering 777 bonus points per night when staying at participating casino hotels worldwide. Not a bad deal if you were planning a casino stay anyway!

For Southwest flyers, there's a limited-time sale offering up to 30% off travel throughout the continental US, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and select international routes. Use the code "TAKE30" through Monday for 30% off applicable travel. According to The Points Guy, this discount works on both paid and award tickets, so it's worth checking out if you have Southwest travel in your future.

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That wraps up today's Miles & Points Daily Podcast. Thanks so much for listening! If you found this information helpful, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, safe travels and happy point collecting!