Welcome to 2018, where hotel loyalty programs are updating their rules and one is starting over completely. A late 2017 bankruptcy is finally getting resolved and new seats are coming (yes, slimlines) to a major European airline. And somehow we’re still relatively optimistic about the whole thing.

Are alliances dead? How many gates is too many to give up to consummate a merger? And just why would Emirates be interested in flying to Buffalo, New York? Listen to the show to find out the answers to these questions and more!