✈️ United's Rabbit Strike, AA's Boarding Shakeup & Southwest Status Match Deal

Welcome to Miles and Points Daily! I'm Lucas, and today we've got some fascinating stories from the world of travel, including a rather unusual wildlife strike, some major changes at American Airlines, and a fantastic opportunity for Southwest members.

Let's start with a bizarre incident at Denver International Airport. A United Airlines flight had to return shortly after takeoff when the aircraft hit... a rabbit. Yes, you heard that right! The strike caused what witnesses described as a 'loud bang and giant fireball.' Thankfully, the Boeing 737-800 landed safely with all 153 passengers and crew unharmed.

Speaking of aircraft incidents, there's been some significant changes coming to American Airlines' boarding process starting May 1st. They're implementing new technology to crack down on what they call 'gate lice' - those passengers who try to board before their group is called. The airline will also begin boarding five minutes earlier on most domestic flights and is reordering their boarding groups to streamline the process.

Here's some exciting news for Southwest Airlines members - Frontier Airlines is offering an incredible deal where you can get their Gold status for just 40 dollars. No existing status is required - you just need to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member. This seems perfectly timed given Southwest's recent changes to their baggage policies.

In credit card news, Bilt has made an interesting announcement - they're now allowing rent payments with any credit card, though there will be a fee involved. This opens up new possibilities for earning points on rent payments, which has traditionally been a challenging category for rewards.

And if you're planning any upcoming hotel stays, Hyatt is currently offering up to 40 percent off at their all-inclusive resorts for bookings made by the end of April. This could be a fantastic opportunity to lock in some summer travel plans.

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That's all for today's news! Thanks for listening to Miles and Points Daily. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more travel rewards content. See you tomorrow!