From Sky-High Drama to Ground-Level Deals: This Week in Travel

Good morning!

Today’s headlines take us on a whirlwind journey—from budget airlines finding their balance to fitness influencers disrupting cabin harmony. We’ll dig into Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy drama, American Airlines' crackdown on boarding cheats, and the unspoken rules of lounge etiquette (yes, keep your shoes on). Meanwhile, an influencer turned an Emirates flight into her personal gym, and Costco’s travel deal is practically giving away flights. Grab your coffee (not from the lounge buffet, please), and let’s dive in.

But first, here are our previous posts:

✈️Costco’s Got a Deal That’s Taking Off

Flight deals don’t get much smoother than this. Costco is offering a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card for just $430. That’s $70 in savings—a rare find for airfare discounts. You can snag up to five cards per person, but act fast because these deals are only available while supplies last.

The fine print? These e-gift cards are non-refundable and can only be redeemed for flights booked directly through Southwest’s platforms (no vacation packages or extras like EarlyBird Check-In). Also, you can only use up to three gift cards per reservation, so plan accordingly.

For frequent flyers or anyone eyeing a future getaway, it’s basically free money toward your next Southwest flight. And remember: protect that gift card like it’s a boarding pass.

✈️American Airlines: No More Boarding Line Shenanigans

Tired of sneaky line-cutters during boarding? American Airlines feels your pain. The carrier is rolling out a simple yet effective tech fix at over 100 airports to enforce boarding order. When passengers try to board before their group is called, the scanner emits an audible tone and visual alert. Cue the gate agent politely sending eager beavers back to their seats.

This isn’t just about rules; it’s about keeping the boarding process orderly and delivering on priority perks that passengers often pay for (looking at you, credit card holders). While companions in lower groups might cause a few false alarms, the system overall is a win for frequent flyers and harried gate agents alike.

In short: cheaters, your free ride is over. Boarding may never be stress-free, but at least now it’s fairer.

✈️Airline Lounges: Keep It Classy (and Keep Your Feet Down)

Lounges are meant to be oases of calm amidst airport chaos, but they’re only as good as the etiquette of their guests. Sadly, many travelers treat them like dorm rooms or fast-food drive-thrus. Here’s a quick PSA:

1. Phone calls? Keep it quiet and off speaker. Most lounges have phone booths—use them.

2. Feet off the furniture. This isn’t your living room, and certainly not a nap zone. Many lounges have dedicated nap areas for that.

3. Don’t loot the food. Grabbing a snack is fine; packing a duffel bag with 36 slices of salami? That’s a no-go.

4. Share the space. Your bag doesn’t need its own chair. Keep it tidy, folks.

A little courtesy goes a long way in preserving these havens. Let’s make lounges great again—one polite guest at a time.

✈️Spirit Airlines: Chapter 11, but Still Flying

Spirit Airlines is going through some turbulence—but not the kind that makes you grab the armrest. The budget carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, aiming to emerge from the process more streamlined and competitive. The restructuring plan, backed by major bondholders, promises to slash $795 million in debt, secure $650 million in financing, and invest in better customer experiences.

For travelers, Spirit says it’s business as usual (yes, that includes those $59 flights), but shareholders won’t be as lucky—the airline’s stock will soon be delisted and rendered worthless.

Spirit’s financial woes follow a rocky journey of merger attempts, including an abandoned Frontier Airlines deal and a failed JetBlue acquisition blocked by antitrust regulators. While the airline plans to exit Chapter 11 by early 2025, whether its spirit truly soars again remains to be seen.

✈️In-Flight Gym? One Influencer Takes “Extra” to New Heights

When fitness meets frequent flying, the results can get turbulent. Mexican fitness influencer Barbara de Regil recently turned Emirates business class into her personal gym, posting a now-deleted video of herself running in place and doing squat jumps mid-flight. Decked out in airline pajamas, she explained that her 35-hour travel journey (read: total trip, not single flight) was driving her stir-crazy.

While we all get a little antsy on long flights, this sky-high workout raised eyebrows—and likely heart rates—for nearby passengers. Subtle yoga stretches or a stroll? Totally fine. Full-on aerobics? Not so much. Plane floors aren’t exactly shock-absorbing, and those sitting nearby probably felt every bounce.

Moral of the story: If the seatbelt sign is off, go for a walk. Just don’t turn the aisle into a CrossFit box.

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✨ Safe Travels & Happy Landings! Thank you for flying with us on this newsletter journey. Until next time, keep your passports ready and your adventures grand!