Watch Us On YouTube!
Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro.
Airfare is getting expensive — sometimes shockingly so.
This week on Miles To Go, Richard and Ed break down a surprising set of flight prices, including transcon fares that stretch well into four-figure territoryr. As demand patterns shift and airlines lean into premium seating, travelers are feeling the squeeze — especially on peak travel windows.
They also dive into JetBlue's latest move: a targeted status match aimed at former Spirit Airlines elites. It's a smart play to capture displaced loyalty, but the path to keeping status may be tougher than it looks.
Meanwhile, a real-world travel story highlights something you don't see every day — Southwest Airlines stepping up with exceptional customer service to get a delayed traveler on an earlier flight when other airlines likely wouldn't have.
Plus, first impressions of a refreshed United breakfast offering (with mixed reviews), new international routes from Seattle, and why some airport lounges are still struggling with overcrowding.
Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun
Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show!
If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!
✈️ What We Cover in This Episode
✈️ JetBlue's status match opportunity
- Targeting former Spirit elites
- Mosaic 1 vs Mosaic 2 benefits
- Why earning status after the match may be difficult
✈️ The reality of airline pricing right now
- $1,000+ coach fares and $6,000 first class tickets
- Why long weekend travel is so expensive
- Demand patterns driving pricing
✈️ Southwest customer service surprise
- Getting on an earlier flight without a confirmed ticket
- Why this rarely happens on other airlines
- Where Southwest still stands out
✈️ United's updated breakfast offering
- A healthier approach to onboard meals
- Hits and misses in execution
- Why simpler catering may be the future
✈️ Delta's new Seattle international routes
- Barcelona and Rome launches
- Competing with Alaska in Seattle
- Why these routes may struggle
✈️ Airport lounge overcrowding
- Priority Pass lounge frustrations in Las Vegas
- Why crowding still hasn't been solved
- The tradeoff between access and experience
✈️ Travel quirks and airline operations
- Special recovery flights with unique flight numbers
- How airlines handle cancellations and maintenance
- A strange diversion story to Wichita
✈️ Disney travel deals return
- Discounted tickets and hotel rates
- When Disney can actually feel "affordable"
- Comparing Disney trips vs cruises
⏱️ Episode 436 Timestamps
0:49 – Intro and travel updates
6:30 – Southwest gets a passenger on an earlier flight
9:20 – United breakfast review (the "chia mystery")
12:10 – JetBlue status match details
18:30 – Why it's hard to keep JetBlue status
18:30 – Why it's hard to keep JetBlue status
21:50 – $1,000 coach and $6,000 first class fares
25:00 – Delta adds Seattle to Europe routes
30:30 – Priority Pass lounge overcrowding in Vegas
32:00 – Unique recovery flight numbers explained
33:00 – Weird diversion story to Wichita
