✈️ Points, Perks, and Portugal: The Week in Travel Takes Off

Good morning and welcome to your weekly dose of news, where the skies are busier than ever, airlines are raising glasses (and eyebrows), and travel rewards are heating up like a seatbelt in July. From Citi giving AAdvantage fans a new reason to smile, to Delta grounding a very different kind of turbulence, to Amex sweetening the holiday season with a Virgin Atlantic bonus, and TAP Air Portugal mapping out fresh paths to summer bliss—there’s no shortage of flight excitement. Buckle up; today’s updates are cleared for takeoff.

But first, here are the posts from the previous week:

✈️Citi’s New ThankYou Note to AAdvantage Fans

Big news in the travel credit card world: Citi and American Airlines are officially BFFs. As part of an expanded partnership, Citi will exclusively issue AAdvantage co-branded credit cards in the U.S., booting Barclays from the picture. But the headline-grabber? AAdvantage miles could soon be a transfer partner for Citi’s ThankYou points program.

Though details and timelines (possibly as far out as 2026) are still under wraps, this move could finally align Citi’s program with rival transferable points systems like Amex Membership Rewards (partnered with Delta) and Chase Ultimate Rewards (linked to United). AAdvantage miles are known for stellar value, and this shift could make Citi cards like the Strata Premier much more enticing.

Why it’s exciting: Citi seems to be doubling down on travel perks, potentially rolling out new cards and giving us more ways to earn miles. Travelers, prepare your wallets. ✈️

✈️Flying High with Amex: A 40% Bonus to Virgin Atlantic

American Express Membership Rewards is treating travelers to a holiday bonus: a 40% transfer boost to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through December 31. That means every 1,000 Amex points nets you 1,400 Flying Club points, turning even quick getaways into wallet-friendly wins.

Virgin Atlantic sweet spots include economy tickets from the U.S. to London for as little as 6,000 points—just 4,300 after the bonus. But don’t go all-in without a plan. Virgin’s history of surprise devaluations and dynamic pricing makes it risky to transfer points without specific travel dates locked in.

Pro tip: Confirm award availability first, then seize this golden opportunity for high-value redemptions. It’s a seasonal deal worth a cheer—just don’t let your points end up with frequent flyer FOMO. ✈️🎁

✈️TAP Air Portugal’s Summer Expansion: Three New U.S. Routes

TAP Air Portugal is turning up the heat for summer 2025, adding three new transatlantic routes to its lineup:

• Boston to Porto: Launching May 14 with four flights weekly using the Airbus A321LR.

• Los Angeles to Lisbon: Starting May 16, three times weekly (increasing to four) aboard the Airbus A330-900neo. WAIT, What? That’s right. Direct flights from LAX now!

• San Francisco to Terceira (Azores): Kicking off June 3 with weekly Tuesday service, also on the A330-900neo.

These additions mean TAP will offer 100+ weekly flights from 11 North American gateways next summer. Travelers can also take advantage of TAP’s Portugal Stopover program for a bonus Lisbon/Porto/Faro detour. We know a cool place to stay!

Why it’s cool: This is the first-ever direct connection from LAX to Lisbon and SFO to Terceira, opening up Portugal's coastal cities and the Azores to more U.S. travelers.

Pro tip: Snag tickets early for a taste of summer in Portugal. Unfortunately, the only award flights are with TAP Portugal. The other Star Alliance airline partners don’t show any award flights…yet! Stay tuned and we’ll update more on this.☀️✈️

✈️Delta’s Alcohol Turbulence

Two Delta flight attendants in Amsterdam hit turbulence before even boarding the plane—failing a random breathalyzer test at Schiphol Airport. While one attendant was just over the Netherlands' strict 0.02 BAC limit, the other clocked in at a jaw-dropping 0.143, more than seven times the legal threshold for airline crews and nearly double the U.S. driving limit.

The Delta flight to JFK managed to take off on time with a scaled-back service, but questions linger. Was this an all-night party gone wrong or just poor judgment? Either way, fines were issued—€275 for the minor offense and €1,900 for the major one—and the crew members are facing potential job loss.

Why it matters: With alcohol rules varying globally, incidents like this spotlight the need for uniform enforcement. No one wants their in-flight beverage served by someone who’s had too many themselves. 🥂✈️

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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!