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ICYMI: Travel News Roundup for Friday, April 28, 2017

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Here’s all the news that caught my eye this week – let me know if you learn something new!

Airlines + Miles

Starting Monday, Alaska Airlines lounges in Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles will no longer allow Priority Pass cardholders to bring guests into the lounge. [Travel Codex]

Alaska flights to/from Seattle are moving to Terminal 2 at SFO starting next week. [Flyertalk] They also announced they will be moving both Virgin and Alaska flights to Terminal 7 at JFK later this year, joining their partners British Airways, Qantas, and Icelandair. [Travel Codex]

Gogo bought more capacity on a satellite over the Pacific Ocean, which it will relocate to provide enhanced in-flight wifi coverage for the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, and transpacific flights. [Runway Girl Network]

Canadian airline WestJet says it’s going to launch a low-cost carrier. [Cranky Flier]

This Week in United

United expanded Basic Economy fares to 100 new markets. Watch out for these, since they give up overhead bin space, priority boarding, and elite-qualifying miles for about a $20 discount. [Skift]

United released a 10-point customer service improvement plan following its mishandling of a passenger in Chicago earlier this month. [Cranky Flier]

United’s new management says pulling out of JFK and consolidating longhaul traffic at Newark was a bad decision. [Skift]

Credit Cards

The Platinum Card from American Express is reducing its Pay with Points rebate on airfare purchases from 50% to 35%, effective June 1. (Cardmembers who signed up between October 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 will enjoy the current rebate for one calendar year). [The Points Guy]

And that rebate now takes 6-10 weeks to post to your account. [Doctor of Credit]

Comenity Bank has stopped accepting applications for its Virgin America credit cards. [Doctor of Credit]

Citi ThankYou Points added Jet Airways as a transfer partner. [View from the Wing]

Hotels + Points

Hilton has a new promotion for 2x base points on stays through August 31. Diamond members will get 3x. [Travel Codex]

Promotions + Deals

Robinhood, a fee-free brokerage, is offering a free share of stock to people who sign up for a new account using a referral link. [Travel with Grant]

Radpad sent out an email warning that they may charge fees as high as 3.99% for using premium credit cards (such as Visa Infinite and Visa Signature) to make payments. [Doctor of Credit]

Check to see if USPS Informed Delivery is available for your address – you could get a daily email with a preview of what’s coming in the mail. [Miles per Day]


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