Delta SkyMiles adds Airbnb, private jets

Delta Air Lines passengers can now earn miles with the SkyMiles loyalty program when booking a stay through Airbnb. Delta is the first of the large U.S. carriers to partner with Airbnb, the leading home-sharing service. Travelers who book an Airbnb stay through Delta will earn 1 mile for every $1 spent. "SkyMiles members can now enjoy the additional benefits of living like a local with authentic travel experiences on Airbnb in all global destinations that Delta services," Lex Bayer, head of business development at Airbnb, said in a statement.

Kristen Leigh Painter

Collect enough reward miles on Delta, and you can also book a flight in your own private jet. SkyMiles members can now accumulate miles toward a flight on its subsidiary Delta Private Jets, which operates more than 70 Wi-Fi-equipped jets. For example, SkyMiles members who earn 2.5 million miles can get $25,000 on a cash card to book a flight on Delta Private Jets.

Los Angeles Times

Before you snap that passport photo, remove your glasses. Under new rules, the State Department will not accept passport photos if you are wearing glasses in them, even if you normally wear glasses. Last year, more than 200,000 passport customers submitted poor quality photos that the agency could not accept. "The No. 1 problem was glasses," the State Department said in a news release. "We had to put their passports on hold because we couldn't clearly identify them from their photo." Selfies are a bad idea, too — photos taken too close or too far away will be rejected. More information at travel.state.gov.

Washington Post

Travelers will soon be able to book accommodations to Cuba through TripAdvisor, one of the world's largest travel websites. It's the latest development in a U.S. travel industry that is expanding tourism to the Communist nation. The new license will allow TripAdvisor to book travel to Cuba for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens, including for hotels, flights, cultural tours and short-term rentals, the company said. TripAdvisor expects to begin travel-related sales to Cuba within the next few months.

A highlight of London's cultural season, "You Say You Want a Revolution?" focuses on the culture and politics of the 1960s. It's on view at the Victoria and Albert Museum through Feb. 26. The objects, video installations and displays will fascinate anyone who lived through the period (or had parents who did), or anyone who wants to understand how the revolutions of the period changed the way we live. The gift shop is selling new issues of vinyl albums. (Info: vam.ac.uk.)

Airfarewatchdog.com

Bags will continue to fly free at Southwest Airlines. Under pressure to generate more revenue, the chief executive of the carrier rejected suggestions that the airline start charging customers to check luggage, even though bag fees have generated billions of dollars for other airlines. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline that doesn't charge passengers to check their first two bags or to change reservations.

Los Angeles Times