Airlines are reporting better unit revenues for the tail end of summer, a sign customers will continue to have to shell out more to fly in the coming months.Alaska Airlines on Thursday raised its third-quarter profit forecast to a range of $2.15 to $2.25 per share from a previous outlook of no more than $1.60 per share. It also said it expects unit revenue to rise by as much as 2% after previously estimating flat to "positive" unit revenue.Delta Air Lines said domestic and trans-Atlantic unit revenue would ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of selecting the right credit card for booking flights to maximize rewards and benefits, highlighting that airline credit cards offer specific perks while general travel cards provide more flexibility [1][31]. Airline Credit Cards Overview - Airline credit cards are designed for travelers loyal to specific airlines, offering rewards and benefits such as free checked bags and priority boarding [32][34]. - Co-branded airline cards typically provide rewards tied to the airline, while general travel cards allow for broader redemption options across multiple airlines [35][38]. Key Features of Airline Credit Cards - Important features to consider include welcome bonuses, rewards rates aligned with spending habits, travel benefits like free checked bags, and fees associated with the card [38][40]. - The potential for elite status and the ability to transfer miles to various travel partners are also significant advantages of airline credit cards [43][45]. Specific Card Highlights - The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, with a rewards rate of 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel [4][5]. - The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card provides 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, along with benefits like a free checked bag for the cardholder and additional passengers [8][9]. - The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months, with benefits including a Companion Certificate and free checked bags [12][13]. General Travel Cards - General travel cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Gold Card, are recommended for those who do not have loyalty to a specific airline, as they provide elevated rewards on flights purchased directly from airlines [47][31]. - These cards offer flexibility in redeeming rewards across various travel partners, making them suitable for occasional travelers [35][38].

The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched an investigation into rewards programs at the four largest airlines over "potential unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices."  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sent letters to American, Delta, Southwest and United Airlines requiring them to hand over records with detailed information about their rewards programs, practices and policies. The department is aiming to combat any deceptive or anticompetitive practices that may occur, such as ...

Atlanta, GA-based airline heavyweight Delta Air Lines (DAL) faces multiple headwinds ranging from the current overcapacity in the airline market, technology outage and high costs.  Due to the headwinds, earnings estimates for not only the remaining quarters of 2024 but also for the current year are on the decline, signaling a bearish outlook for the airline. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings per share indicates a decline of 26.1% and 5% from the respective 2023 figur ...

In the latest trading session, Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed at $40.43, marking a -0.93% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.6%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.39%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.12%.The airline's stock has dropped by 5.6% in the past month, falling short of the Transportation sector's gain of 0.22% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.15%.The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Delta Air Line ...

Two people have been killed and another seriously injured after an explosion at a Delta Air Lines maintenance depot at Atlanta's airport in Georgia.An aircraft tyre reportedly exploded, according to a union representative who spoke to Sky News' US partner, NBC News. Several fire and police units responded to a hangar at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia shortly after 5am (10am UK time).The airline said it is conducting an investigation and working with local authorities."The Delta fa ...

Delta Air Lines' chief operating officer is leaving at the end of the month, the company said in a securities filing on Friday.CEO Ed Bastian said in an employee memo that Chief Operations Officer Mike Spanos is taking a job at another company.His departure, after just over a year on the job, comes weeks after Delta suffered a meltdown in the wake of the massive CrowdStrike outage in July. Delta estimates those disruptions cost the airline some $500 million and said it will seek compensation from CrowdStrik ...

Core Points - The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card are co-branded travel credit cards designed for Delta Airlines customers, each offering distinct benefits and rewards tailored to different travel preferences and spending habits [2][9]. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Overview - The Gold card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, transitioning to $150 thereafter [4]. - A welcome offer includes earning 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months [4]. - The ongoing APR ranges from 19.74% to 28.74% variable [4]. - Recommended credit score for applicants is Excellent/Good [4]. - Rewards structure includes 2x miles on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets, and restaurants worldwide, and 1x mile on all other eligible purchases [4]. Delta SkyMiles Gold Benefits - Key benefits include a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, free first checked bag on Delta flights, and in-flight savings [5][10]. - The card is positioned as a solid option for occasional Delta travelers seeking travel savings without high costs [5][6]. Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Overview - The Platinum card has a higher annual fee of $350 [12]. - A welcome offer includes earning 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months [12]. - The ongoing APR also ranges from 19.74% to 28.74% variable [12]. - Recommended credit score for applicants is Excellent/Good [12]. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Benefits - Benefits include a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000, 15% savings on award flights, and various statement credits for hotel bookings and in-flight purchases [9][13][20]. - The card offers an annual companion certificate for a round-trip flight, which can provide significant value for frequent travelers [15][21]. - It is designed for more frequent Delta travelers who can maximize the card's benefits and rewards [14][24]. Comparison of Gold and Platinum Cards - The Gold card is best suited for occasional travelers who prefer earning Delta SkyMiles without incurring high fees, while the Platinum card is tailored for frequent travelers who can leverage its extensive benefits [22][24]. - Both cards have distinct advantages, but the Platinum card offers more comprehensive rewards and perks for those who travel regularly with Delta [27][28].

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Delta Air Lines (DAL) .Delta currently has an average brokerage r ...

In the latest trading session, Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed at $40.15, marking a -0.07% move from the previous day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.2%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.24%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.21%.Shares of the airline witnessed a loss of 10.55% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Transportation sector with its loss of 19.48% and underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 1.49%.The upcoming earnings release of Delta Air Lines will ...