United Airlines and JetBlue launch 'Blue Sky' partnership
JetBlue and United Airline are launching 'Blue Sky', a limited partnership that will allow their passengers to share frequent flyer points on select routes. The agreement, announced on May 29, includes slot sharing at New York's JFK Airport and New Jersey's Newark Airport.
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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Unpacking rumor that Stephen Miller's wife, Katie, left him for Elon Musk
In late May and early June 2025, rumors swirled that the wife of White House adviser Stephen Miller, Katie Miller, had left him for tech magnate Elon Musk, who until then had served as the new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency's public face. Some internet users even suggested that the affair had started with Stephen Miller's consent in an arrangement some described as a "throuple." For example, user @ on Bluesky relayed these claims: (Bluesky user @ The post read: Oh I am not sh**posting, folks. Stephen Miller, his wife, and Elon are widely rumored to be a throuple. Now Miller's wife is leaving the Trump team to be with Musk & LITERALLY PER THE NEW YORK TIMES Stephen is angrily subtweeting Musk. They actually put it in the paper of record that he was mad The post on Bluesky had received 7,600 likes and 3,200 reshares as of this writing. The same rumor appeared several times on Bluesky, but also on X, where the official account of the Democratic National Committee tagged Miller in its post of a single empty chair in a supposed hotel room in reaction to rumors that Miller's wife had left government to work for Musk in the private sector (archived): The empty chair represented a meme known as the "cuck chair," a chair on which someone supposedly sits while they watch their spouse have sex with someone else. This post had amassed 2.1 million views and 32,000 likes as of this writing, further spreading the unsubstantiated claim that Miller had cheated on her husband with Musk. Snopes has reached out to the Miller couple and Musk, seeking details. However, because we were not able to confirm or disprove the story, we have left it unrated. The rumor started as Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of SpaceX, announced his departure from DOGE. Bluesky user Snyder (to whom we have reached out for comment and await a reply) referenced a New York Times story published on May 28, 2025, which indeed referenced Miller criticizing Musk on X without naming him. Miller posted on X (archived) in response to Musk lambasting the "One Big Beautiful" budget bill the U.S. House of Representatives had voted on, which experts, including analysts at the Tax Foundation, said would cause the budget deficit to balloon. The article read: However, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, shot back at Mr. Musk on social media without naming him. Mr. Miller asserted that the bill would reduce the deficit — despite multiple independent analyses saying otherwise — and noted that the cuts made by Mr. Musk's team were unrelated to the spending bill. Lower down in the thread on Bluesky, Snyder linked to a story published on Feb. 27, 2025, in Wired, which Snyder said "strongly implied throupledom." The story explained that while Stephen Miller had assumed the position of White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, his wife had been appointed as "top communications official at DOGE," directly with Musk. Citing an anonymous Republican source, the story went on to suggest that this had been by design: The Millers are seen inside Trumpworld as glorified babysitters for Musk, tasked with ensuring he stays within bounds, insofar as that's possible. "He gets a lot of grace," the first Republican said of Musk. "Many people aren't nervous, because Stephen Miller is deeply involved. And Katie." This Republican compared Musk to a preteen child. However, the Wired story implied more salacious suspicions about the relationship between the Millers and Musk without making them explicit: Musk's relationship with the Millers has become a subject of great intrigue in Washington as DOGE continues to wreak havoc on the federal government. Little is known about how often they interact outside of work and how the relationship grew over the late stages of the campaign into the transition. "If you can find out anything about Stephen Miller's social life, I don't wanna know the answer," says a longtime Republican operative who knows the couple personally. Given the anonymous sourcing, Snopes was unable to independently verify Wired's reporting. We have reached out to Snyder on Bluesky asking if the user heard the rumor independently. However, on May 28, 2025, a CNN report that Katie Miller had left DOGE to work for Musk full time gave new life to claims that the relationship between Musk and the pair was more complicated than it seemed. Citing three unnamed sources, CNN said Miller was now helping arrange interviews for Musk. Snopes was unable to independently verify CNN's reporting because it was based on anonymous sources. Though several internet users took it to mean that she had left her husband, with whom she shares three children, the reality is that Katie Miller had the status of "special government employee," which precluded her working more than 130 days per year for the U.S. government. As such, she would have had to leave government work regardless of which job she took on after her stint at DOGE. While she did not confirm the story, she had reshared on X one post by Musk regarding his departure from the government, as well as a screen capture of one of his quotes about DOGE, suggesting she may indeed be working as his spokeswoman. Two days later, on May 30, 2025, Musk stood in the White House Oval Office, speaking to the press alongside U.S. President Donald Trump about his return to the private sector. Musk appeared with a bruise around his right eye. While Musk said he owed his black eye to his son, whom he said he had instructed to punch him, the internet once again lit up with speculation (archived): The post had gained 2.7 million views and 41,000 likes as of this writing. Snopes reached out to the Millers as well as Musk asking them to provide further details. We will update this report should they respond. "'Big Beautiful Bill' House GOP Tax Plan: Preliminary Details and Analysis." Tax Foundation, 13 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. "Elon Musk Bids Farewell to White House but Says Doge Will Continue." BBC, 29 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Hamilton, Phillip. "Cuck Chair." Know Your Meme, 15 Nov. 2022, Accessed 2 June 2025. Klein, Betsy, et al. "May 28, 2025 - Donald Trump Presidency News." CNN, 28 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Lahut, Jake. "Elon Musk's Takeover Is Being Aided by a Trumpworld Power Couple." WIRED, 27 Feb. 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Pager, Tyler, et al. "Elon Musk, Distanced from Trump, Says He's Exiting Washington and DOGE." The New York Times, 29 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Pogue, David, and Joe Walsh. "Elon Musk Says He's 'Disappointed' by Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and What It Means for DOGE." CBS News, 28 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. Siddiqui, Faiz, and Frances Vinall. "Musk Explains His Black Eye, Says He Told Son X to Punch Him." The Washington Post, 31 May 2025, Accessed 2 June 2025. "Summary of Government Ethics Rules for Special Government Employees." 27 Aug. 2014, Accessed 2 June 2025.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Malafronte to be nominated as next director at Manchester airport
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais this week will nominate Tom Malafronte to serve as the next airport director at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The nomination is expected to be made at Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Malafronte has been serving as deputy director of the airport since 2015, and as acting airport director since early April. Ted Kitchens announced in March that he would be leaving his post as director of aviation on April 4. Malafronte has been with MHT for 35 years, serving in seven different roles. In addition to deputy director, Malafronte has served as manager of airport operations and facilities, assistant director of air service development, marketing and public relations. Ruais said Malafronte started as a maintenance specialist doing everything from "inspecting aircrafts to operating snowplows for the runways," working his way up to deputy director. "He is a foundational guy who knows the airport from top to bottom," Ruais said. "That type of experience is hard to come by these days and is deeply valued. Tom is also a true aviation professional with broad knowledge of the industry. He has my full support as our new director. "I am confident he is the right person to the lead MHT at this time.' Kitchens guided the airport through the pandemic and helped draw new airlines to Manchester in recent years. 'I have accomplished the goals that I had when I arrived six years ago: the airport is financially stable; we have been able to attract new air service for the airport, as exemplified by the recent commitment made by JetBlue; and to build organizational resiliency that enabled us to not only survive the pandemic, but to come out of the period in a stronger situation,' Kitchens said in his resignation letter to city officials. Kitchens was the highest-paid city employee, earning nearly $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2023. That same year Malafronte was paid $158,993. Ruais praised what Kitchens accomplished for Manchester. Kitchens 'has attracted five airlines, constructed a 64,000-square-foot cargo warehouse used by Amazon that created 300 full-time jobs for Manchester residents, tripled the amount of federal funding for capital development projects, diversified airport revenue streams, and restructured 70% of its long-term debt,' the mayor said in a statement. 'His tenure will be most remembered for bringing JetBlue to the airport, along with its $48 million investment,' Ruais said. Kitchens said he plans to 'pursue new horizons and turn the airport over to new management to build upon the sound foundation that exists.' 'New leadership can bring a new vision and strategies that will continue the Airport on its current positive trajectory,' Kitchens wrote. In May the Department of Business and Economic Affairs honored Kitchens with its Collaborator of the Year award at its annual tourism summit. The award, presented by Commissioner Taylor Caswell, recognizes strong commitment and exceptional support to the state in advancing tourism and economic development. 'Ted provides a great example of how vision turns into reality,' Caswell said. 'Beyond attracting five airlines to the airport, he successfully led Manchester-Boston Regional Airport through a pandemic and poised it for further growth.'
CNET
8 hours ago
- CNET
JetBlue and United Airlines Announce Partnership: What This Means for Travelers and Airfare
Last week, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways announced a strategic partnership named Blue Sky, aiming to enhance connectivity and combine customer benefits, but without merging operations. The agreement is still awaiting regulatory approval, but both airlines expect to start rolling out the partnership later this fall. If it's approved, passengers will be able to earn and spend frequent flyer miles between the two airlines. "This collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry -- one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks," Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue, said in a statement. "United's global reach perfectly complements JetBlue's East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members, no matter where in the world they are traveling." Read more: Southwest Airlines Says You Can't Use Portable Chargers Inside Your Bags Why the Blue Sky partnership matters This alliance allows both airlines to sell seats on each other's flights and expand their market presence. United will regain access to New York's JFK Airport, with up to seven daily round-trip flights by 2027, after a long absence since its exit in 2015. JetBlue, in turn, will increase its operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, a United hub. What are the perks of Blue Sky? Here's what travelers on both airlines should know about how the partnership will operate: Reciprocal frequent flyer benefits: Members of United's MileagePlus and JetBlue's TrueBlue programs can earn and redeem points across both airlines. Members of United's MileagePlus and JetBlue's TrueBlue programs can earn and redeem points across both airlines. Integrated booking platforms: Customers can book flights on either airline through both United's and JetBlue's websites and apps, simplifying the booking process. Customers can book flights on either airline through both United's and JetBlue's websites and apps, simplifying the booking process. Expanded route options: The partnership offers travelers more choices, especially along the East Coast. What this partnership means for travelers For passengers, this collaboration translates to more flight options, streamlined booking experiences and enhanced loyalty rewards. Business travelers, in particular, may benefit from United's return to JFK, with its convenient access to New York City. Leisure travelers can benefit from increased connectivity to various destinations, especially with JetBlue's strong presence in the Caribbean and Florida. This partnership could also impact airfare. Jesse Neugarten, a travel expert and founder of Dollar Flight Club, provided insight into how this partnership can bring more competitive airfare to New York's busiest airports, and how travelers can benefit from more flexibility and cheaper prices. "This opens up a lot of new routes, especially from the Northeast to the Caribbean and internationally," Neugarten said. "Based on what we're seeing, fares at JFK could drop 5 to 10% as United takes on Delta again. At Newark, JetBlue's move could push fares down 3 to 7% as United responds to the added pressure. It'll vary by route, but overall, this should lead to better deals for flyers." Neugarten said the fare change estimates are based on historical pricing data from Skyscanner, Kiwi and Dollar Flight Club's own deal tracking tools. The team analyzed what happened to prices in the past when airlines added or dropped service at JFK and Newark, such as when JetBlue launched more transatlantic flights or when United left JFK in 2015, to calculate these percentages. In general, increased competition amongst airlines creates cheaper fares for travelers. Both airlines plan to maintain separate operations while offering customers the benefits of a collaboration. JetBlue/United What does this mean for the airlines? This partnership comes after JetBlue's previous alliance with American Airlines was dissolved following legal challenges over competition concerns. Unlike that arrangement, the Blue Sky partnership avoids revenue sharing and coordinated scheduling, potentially sidestepping regulatory issues. JetBlue has been actively seeking partnerships to strengthen its position in the market, enhance its loyalty program and expand its network. What comes next? Pending regulatory approval, elements of the Blue Sky partnership may roll out as early as fall 2025. Both airlines plan to maintain independent, separate operations alongside their collaboration. This move reflects a broader trend in the airline industry, where carriers seek innovative ways to expand reach and improve customer experience without full mergers. For more travel-related articles, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also read about the new Real ID requirement for getting through airport security.
