InsideFlyer

Tailwinds Alaska says fuel costs erased its first-half profit as it prepares a premium-cabin expansion featuring lie-flat Aurora suites. The suites are planned for at least 25 Boeing 737-10s on routes from 2028. The airline aims to raise premium products above 40% of revenue by 2030.

Qatar Privilege Club An Indian traveler used points held with a Singapore bank to arrange a first Europe trip from Bengaluru. The itinerary routed through Doha, with Qatar flights in economy and an IndiGo return leg. It blended bank points with cash rather than U.S. card rewards.

Delta SkyMiles A travel blogger is skipping Delta’s year-end mileage run, while criticizing the airline’s new free wine-checking offer as limited and uninsured. The weekly roundup also reports changes to American flight crediting through Alaska’s Atmos Rewards and several aviation incidents. Delta’s status rules remain the central thread.

Nights St. Louis' Last Hotel is set to return as a Hyatt Centric after Singh Investment Group bought the closed property. It left Hyatt in 2021 and shut in 2025, displacing guests and eliminating jobs. The reopening is expected October 15 after a $4 million renovation.

Up Front Leaders Club, part of Leading Hotels of the World, is now a transfer partner for American Express points. Its award nights may cost fewer points than some chain hotels, even with a 4:1 transfer ratio. Members receive daily continental breakfast, plus occasional in-room amenities.

The Beat Boeing’s engineers ratified a four-year labor agreement, removing the immediate threat of a strike that could have halted 777X certification work. The agreement delivers a 10% initial raise plus future increases. Both SPEEA bargaining units approved it on Oct. 1.

Between Flights Air India will add First Class suites to its Sydney-Delhi service and increase flights from seven to 11 weekly, beginning 5 December 2026. Boeing 777-300ERs will initially serve selected flights, then replace Boeing 787-8s across the daily schedule. American Express is temporarily refurbishing both Australian lounges.

The Wallet The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card welcome bonus has risen from 15,000 to 50,000 points, with the offer ending Dec. 14. The roundup also tracks hotel promotions and points purchases with deadlines from October through December. Other listed cutoffs cover Avios redemptions, cashback and card-linked bonuses.

Between Flights American, KLM and SWISS announced plans to add Starlink, while Delta was not adding it. Icelandair named St. Louis its 16th U.S. destination, and the United States is ending passport stamps for most arrivals. The roundup also covered airline routes, hotel changes and lounge projects.

The Line A traveler confirmed the method still lets members of one CLEAR+ family plan use separate American Express statement credits. The process temporarily removes the second adult before renewal, then restores that person after the primary charge and credit post. It avoids opening a second account.