Delta Voluntary Bump Scores a 98-Inch TV, SkyMiles Co-Branded Card Refresh, American Suspends LAX Routes, a Rat on a Jet Flap, and More – Weekly Recap

A good week around here: René turned a voluntary bump at Houston’s IAH into a 98-inch big screen TV, the SkyMiles co-branded card lineup got a meaningful refresh worth knowing about, American quietly suspended six routes while calling it something else entirely, I recorded a national commercial from a Delta Sky Club phone booth, and Saturday’s news roundup delivered a rat clinging to a jet flap and a pilot arrested for dive-bombing a crowded beach. Let’s get into it.

The post I keep thinking about: René’s voluntary bump story from Houston. The short version — flight oversold by two, $500 each to take the next day’s departure, bump vouchers converted to Amazon gift cards, 98-inch Hisense TV ordered approximately four seconds later. It’s a great reminder that if your schedule has any flexibility at all, hanging around the gate and being the first to raise your hand can pay off in ways that go well beyond a flight credit. The full story (including a near-second bump that weather unfortunately derailed) is worth a read.

If you fly Delta with any regularity and haven’t looked at the co-branded card lineup lately, now’s the time: the SkyMiles American Express cards just got refreshed welcome offers across six cards, new card designs, and a free second checked bag benefit — though that second bag perk comes with a significant caveat (it covers the cardholder only, not traveling companions). The elevated offers run through July 15, 2026. If you’ve been on the fence about one of these cards, the window is open. I broke down every card in the lineup and which ones make sense for which type of traveler.

On the airline news front: American is suspending six routes — four of them out of LAX — between August 5 and October 5, citing jet fuel costs. The affected nonstops are LAX to Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Dulles, plus two Charlotte routes. American is calling it “seasonally adjusted service,” which is technically true and also doing a lot of work. Anyone booked on these routes gets rebooked or refunded. As I noted, Norse Atlantic already bailed on its entire LAX summer schedule for the same reason — American is unlikely to be the last carrier to quietly reshape its fall network around fuel math.

And then there’s this one: I recorded a national radio commercial from a Delta Sky Club phone booth during a Salt Lake City layover. Travel mic, a MacBook Pro, and one very eventful cup of hot apple cider that ended up on his laptop. (Equipment insured. I gave the Sky Club rep a Job Well Done card. The ad ran in New York.) If you’ve ever pulled off something work-related from an unlikely airport perch, the comment section is already your people.

Finally, Saturday’s news roundup: TSA is moving forward with a privatized airport security program called Gold+, a pilot was arrested after dive-bombing a crowded beach three times, and — yes — there is apparently video of a rat clinging to a jet flap during landing. Whether it’s real or CGI, you’ll have to decide for yourself. The full roundup is here.

In case you missed them:

• Delta Air Lines “Gave” Me a 100-inch Big Screen TV for Giving Up My Seats for a Later Flight!
• Delta SkyMiles American Express® Cards Got a Free Second Bag — Here’s Which One to Get
• American Suspends Six Routes — Four of Them Out of LAX
• How I Recorded a Radio Commercial in an Airport Lounge Phone Booth
• Giant Rat Clings to Jet Flap During Landing — Real or CGI, You Decide — Pilot Arrested for Dive-Bombing a Crowded Beach Three Times, and More Travel News!