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].

Giving in to continuous calls for a strategic overhaul from activist investor Elliott Investment Management,Southwest Airlines (LUV) overhauled its board. Under the plethora of changes, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier’s former CEO and current executive chair Gary Kelly and several board members announced their decision to step down. The board revamp resulted in LUV stock declining 1.6% to close the trading session on Sept. 10 at $29.25 per share.Per a regulatory filing, LUV announced that six of its board ...

Southwest Airlines will revamp its board and the chairman will retire next year, but it intends to keep CEO Robert Jordan in a partial concession to hedge fund Elliott Investment Management, which has been pushing for changes at the airline including Jordan’s ouster.Southwest said Tuesday that six directors will leave the board in November and it plans to appoint four new, independent directors, potentially including candidates put forward by Elliott.Shares of Southwest Airlines fell 4% Tuesday. 4 Activis ...

Southwest Airlines (LUV) received encouraging tidings on the labor front when it inked a tentative agreement with the company’s flight simulator technicians’ union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 19, for a new collective bargaining agreement. There are more than 50 flight simulator technicians at the Dallas-based carrier. These technicians are responsible for providing essential maintenance and engineering support. By doing so, they ensure the reliability and safety of flight training equipmen ...

Key TakeawaysSouthwest Airlines' former CEO and current Executive Chair Gary Kelly and several board members announced they will be stepping down.The moves came as Elliott Investment Management puts pressure on executives to make significant changes to the airline.Kelly told shareholders it was "the time for change." Southwest Airlines (LUV) shares fell in intraday trading Tuesday as the carrier facing pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management announced the exit of its former Chief Execu ...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Elliott Investment Management L.P. ("Elliott"), today released the following statement on behalf of Partner John Pike and Portfolio Manager Bobby Xu regarding Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) ("Southwest") and the actions announced today – including the resignation of seven directors:We learned yesterday, which was made public today, that nearly half of Southwest's Board of Directors had decided to resign based on shareholder feedback. In our experienc ...

A Southwest Airlines plane takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport above other Southwest planes on July 25, 2024 in Burbank, California.Southwest Airlines chairman and former CEO Gary Kelly said Tuesday that he will step down next year, a move that comes as the carrier faces pressure for changes by activist investor Elliott Investment Management.Kelly, who has worked at Southwest for nearly four decades, announced he would step down hours after a meeting with Elliott, which has been calling for leadership ...

Six Directors to Retire in November; Gary Kelly to Retire Immediately After 2025 Annual Meeting Board Intends to Appoint Four New Independent Directors, Potentially Including Candidates Proposed by Elliott Investment Management L.P., in Near TermBoard Eliminates Executive Committee Structure and Creates New Finance Committee; New Committee Chairs and Lead Independent Director to be NamedBoard Reiterates Support for Bob Jordan as CEOSouthwest Airlines Intends to Continue Engagement Toward a Collaborative Res ...

DALLAS, Sept. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 19, which represents the airline's Flight Simulator Technicians, have reached a Tentative Agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement."Our Flight Simulator Technicians help keep our flight training facility operating nearly 24 hours a day and play a pivotal role in Southwest's mission to support a safe and reliable operation," said Adam Carlisle, Vice President Labor Re ...

Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has continued pushing for a "comprehensive" review of Southwest Airlines' business while building its stake in the carrier. Elliott now holds 10% of the airline’s common stock, a Tuesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed, allowing it to call a special meeting with Southwest.The investment firm has also advocated for numerous changes at Southwest that it has argued will improve the carrier’s financial performance. As part of Elliot ...