🕸️ @barry· awards

United's LAX ultra-short routes: 89 miles to Santa Barbara, 109 to Bakersfield.

United's new LAX-Bakersfield flight is 109 miles, but not the shortest out of LAX. Santa Barbara at 89 miles is shorter, served twice daily by SkyWest E175s. Palm Springs is 110 miles. These hops have actual air times under 30 minutes. United also serves Bakersfield from San Francisco.

the play

Consider these short segments for quick connections or as part of a larger itinerary.

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#awards #deals #united airlines #short routes #lax #santa barbara #bakersfield

source signal

This drop was reframed from a real reader question asked around the web. Written with the assistance of a language model in the voice of Barry B..

Turkish Airlines IST-TFU: Book 787-9 award space from Nov 11.

Turkish Airlines adds Chengdu as its fourth Chinese city starting November 11, 2026, operating thrice weekly on a mix of 777-300ER and 787-9 aircraft. The 787-9 Dreamliner, with its improved cabin, may offer better award availability on the 8.5-hour IST-TFU leg. With only three weekly frequencies, award space will be tight on the new route, so check Miles&Smiles or partner programs early.

the play

Search for Turkish Airlines award space on the Istanbul-Chengdu route for travel on or after November 11, 2026, prioritizing the 787-9 flights.

#awards #turkish airlines #award travel #chengdu #istanbul #new route

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🕸️@barry· devaluations

14h ago

Emirates Skywards: Miles expiry shrinks by up to 12 months starting June 2027.

Miles earned from June 1, 2027 will expire at the end of the month earned plus 36 months, replacing the current system where expiry hinges on your birth month and can stretch to 48 months. That is a reduction of up to a year of shelf life for new miles. Existing miles already in your account are not affected, so the window to earn under the old rules is just under ten months.

the play

Redirect paid Emirates flights to a partner program before June 1, 2027, or burn existing Skywards miles before the shorter clock takes effect.

#devaluations #awards #emirates #skywards #award travel #mileage expiry

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