United Airlines has rolled out a suite of new features for its mobile app focused on transparency and reducing stress. The airline is introducing a Virtual Gate to prevent crowding, a United Club capacity tracker to help you find a seat, and a new bag tracking interface that mimics package delivery apps.

American Airlines just flew its first Airbus A321XLR revenue flight, making it the only U.S. airline operating the aircraft. The inaugural departed JFK for LAX on December 18, 2025, with over 150 passengers on board.

American Airlines has quietly gutted one of the last remaining perks of basic economy: earning miles. As of December 17, 2025, AAdvantage members no longer earn miles or Loyalty Points on basic economy tickets.

British Airways raised the cost of Avios redemptions on December 15, 2025. The increase hits both BA-operated flights and partner airlines like American, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. Most awards went up around 10%, though some routes saw hikes as high as 14%.

Finnair has officially announced its first-ever service to Australia. Starting October 25, 2026, the airline will fly daily between Helsinki (HEL) and Melbourne (MEL). The flight includes a short stop in Bangkok (BKK).

Vietnam Airlines is expanding its European network with a new nonstop route between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Copenhagen (CPH). Starting today, December 15, 2025, this will be the only direct flight connecting Vietnam and Denmark.

TAP Air Portugal has just launched a new status match campaign, giving frequent flyers from the UK and EU a fast track into their TAP Miles&Go loyalty program. Unlike many status matches that require endless hoops, this one is refreshingly simple: match your existing airline elite status to TAP Miles&Go Silver, pay €49, and enjoy 12 months of Star Alliance benefits, plus a 2x Status Miles bonus for your first 30 days.

Looking for a way into the oneworld alliance without grinding through a full qualification cycle? Royal Air Maroc’s Safar Flyer status match might be your answer. The Moroccan flag carrier is accepting applications from elite members of select airlines, offering Silver, Gold, or even Platinum status, plus a complimentary 3x Status Miles booster to help you retain that status into 2027.

SAS has announced that it will be increasing the number of EuroBonus points required for award travel. These changes will take effect for all bookings made on or after December 1, 2025. The new pricing mainly affects premium cabin redemptions, specifically Business and Premium Economy on SAS long-haul flights and Business Class on many partner airlines. The good news is that you can still book at the current, lower rates until the deadline.

SeatGuru shut down in November 2025 after TripAdvisor, its parent company, discontinued the service. For over 20 years, SeatGuru was the primary tool travelers used to find the best airplane seats, but the site became outdated and was not maintained with current aircraft configurations. As of 2026, SeatGuru.com still redirects to TripAdvisor’s main page, and TripAdvisor has shown no signs of reviving the service.

United Airlines has just rolled out two announcements, making it easier for MileagePlus members to earn award miles without even stepping on a plane. The airline has introduced the new MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card and a powerful partnership with the ride-sharing service Lyft.

American Airlines has launched a new award sale for AAdvantage members, offering over a million seats at reduced mileage prices. The promotion, called MaximizeMiles, makes it possible to book one-way flights for as few as 6,000 miles.