New AA Status Benefit, European Train Redemptions, JetBlue’s LGA Move, and More Airline News

This weekend, we’ve got news about a new AAdvantage Loyalty Point benefit, improvements to Viasat in-flight Wi-Fi, a ban on checking in your robot (yes, really), more streamlined connectivity between the U.S. and the Middle East, and there’s even a train in this airline news segment.

American Adds Inflight Loyalty Points Benefit

As of this week, AAdvantage members have a new loyalty benefit to choose from when hitting 15,000 Loyalty Points. Two inflight food and beverage coupons have been added to the list of reward choices, which also includes a personalized luggage tag, 1,000 Loyalty Points, priority privileges with Group 4 boarding for a single trip, or 5 Preferred Seat coupons.

JetBlue Wants To Move Terminals at LaGuardia

JetBlue wants to swap the glitz and glam of LaGuardia’s Terminal B for the currently unoccupied Terminal A to save some cash. The airline says the decades-old Marine Air Terminal, as it’s known, will provide it with financial savings that it can pass to its passengers through cheaper airfares.

The idea of lower fares might appeal to some, but this terminal will provide a far inferior airport experience to what JetBlue’s passengers are used to. Flying from JetBlue’s redeveloped Terminal 5 at JFK instead also means some passengers have access to the airline’s first-ever airport lounge.

There’s Hope for Viasat Wi-Fi

As airlines adopt Starlink in droves, passengers whose airlines still use Viasat as their provider often experience inferior connectivity. That should all change soon when Viasat’s latest satelite F2, enters orbit. This will be particularly great news for passengers flying airlines that still rely on Viasat, such as American, Delta, and JetBlue.

JetBlue Introduces New Inflight Dining Partner

As of July 31, new flavors await the taste buds of some Mint passengers. On select domestic and transatlantic Mint routes, passengers will enjoy new dishes curated in collaboration with chefs from Birdee and Crown Shy — two of New York’s popular restaurants.

United Bans Humanoid Robots From Flights

Humanoid and animal-like robots are not permitted on United Airlines flights. That includes both in the cabin and in the hold as checked items. The reason for the outright ban is the lithium batteries these robots often contain, which can pose a safety risk due to their combustibility. Smaller robotic toys and gadgets may be allowed on board, should they meet United’s carry-on rules and safety standards.

You Can Book European Trains via Emirates Skywards

Emirates has broadened the reach of its Skywards program by adding train ticket redemptions with some 40 rail operators across 12 European countries. This includes tickets on London’s Heathrow Express, connections between major cities in Spain and Italy, and even the Eurostar between France and the U.K.

However, before booking, it’s worth checking the value you’d get for your miles. For example, tickets for the short 15-minute journey from London Heathrow to Paddington start at 4,700 Skywards miles. As per Upgraded Points’ valuations, that’s around $51 worth of miles — almost double what these tickets would cost you if paying cash.

Some Qatar Airways Passengers Now Exempt From Annoying Bag Recheck

Passengers arriving at JFK’s New Terminal One on Qatar Airways flights won’t have to collect and recheck their bags. Instead, Customs and Border Protection officers will remotely scan inbound passengers’ bags for prohibited items while the passengers are still in the air. Remote baggage scanning was first introduced in April 2025 and has since been permanently implemented on a select few inbound routes, including Delta’s flights from Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), and Minneapolis (MSP).

Saudia Inks Codeshare With Delta for More U.S. Connectivity

SkyTeam member airline Saudia has struck a deal with Delta, as well as Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, to increase connectivity between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. The new codeshares will enable one-ticket reservations from nearly 30 U.S. destinations to Saudi Arabia. Easy connections without the need to pick up and recheck luggage will be possible at Amsterdam (AMS), London Heathrow (LHR), and Paris (CDG).

Final Thoughts

Aside from JetBlue’s plans to move to an outdated terminal at LGA, the rest of today’s roundup highlights positive changes to the passenger experience in general — even if only a small percentage of travelers will benefit.