The situation across the Middle East remains highly fluid and may change dramatically as the U.S. and Israel signal that attacks on Iran will intensify in the days ahead. That has placed airlines in a precarious position of uncertainly. Here’s a look at current airspace closures country-by-country. Middle East Airspace Remains In Flux As War […]
Lufthansa Softens Violin Policy After Backlash Over “Naked Violin” Incident
After facing criticism from musicians and travelers alike, Lufthansa is adjusting its policy on carrying violins and other small musical instruments onboard aircraft. The change comes months after a viral incident involving a professional violinist who was forced to travel with her violin “naked” (outside of its carrying case) because the case was deemed too […]
Unpopular Opinion: I’m Not Outraged By Hyatt Award Increases
Hyatt Hotels increased the cost of award redemptions and while most of the miles and points community is outraged, I’m really not bothered but for practical reasons. Award Changes The headlines in the miles and points community this week might as well have been “Sky Is Falling, Hyatt Nukes Award Chart.” Actually, with some reflection, […]
A Runner Did a 5K in an Airplane Bathroom. Why?
A marathoner locked himself in a plane lavatory for an hour to log a 5K on Strava. Passengers and the internet had thoughts.
EgyptAir Adds Service To Chicago And Los Angeles, Flight Schedules Now Live
EgyptAir announced plans to add two major new US routes in 2026, with nonstop flights from Cairo to both Los Angeles and Chicago, but those routes are now official and flight schedules published. EgyptAir Is Coming To Chicago And Los Angeles With New Nonstop Flights EgyptAir has filed schedules for new Cairo (CAI) service to […]
AI Rental Car Scans Produce Questionable Reports, Real Bills
Hertz and Sixt are using AI scanners that automatically flag rental car damage. Customers are getting hit with surprise bills for marks no human eye can catch. If you have been on X this week, you may have already caught this post from @HustleBitch_ about rental car companies using AI-powered scanners to automatically detect vehicle […]
Hyatt Chairman Resigns After Epstein Emails Surface Showing Hotel Favors And “May The Force Be With You” Reply
A startling leadership shake-up is underway after Hyatt’s long-time Executive Chairman stepped down following the release of emails that tied him Jeffrey Epstein. Hyatt Chairman Steps Down Over Epstein Files As Remarkable Email Exchanges Surface Thomas J. “Tom” Pritzker, the billionaire Executive Chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and cousin to J.D. Pritzker, the governor of […]
Book Club Retreats Are Turning Resorts Into Reading Nooks
Book clubs are escaping the living room for resorts. From Moab “glamping” to literary tours, reading is becoming a legitimate motivation to travel. Book Clubs Have Left The Living Room And Headed To The Resort An interesting new trend has crept into specialty travel and conference groups: reading retreats. For years, “book club” meant someone’s […]
LA’s “Hottest” Coffee Shop Is Found Inside Someone’s Home
A viral LA coffee counter runs from a private home, and it raises big questions about safety, access, and whether this model can travel. Los Angeles has never been shy about eating (or drinking) in unconventional places. Taco trucks are better than anything with a reservation. Pop-ups are incredibly transitory and difficult to establish into […]
American Airlines’ Robert Isom Breaks His Silence After Union Revolt, But The Path Forward Remains Unclear
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom recently issued a video response to mounting internal pressure following a historic no-confidence vote by the flight attendant union and similar frustration expressed by the pilots’ union. The speech was intended to outline a turnaround plan for the airline in 2026, but what came through in tone and substance was […]
Halloway Bets Big On Private Rail Travel In America, Again?!
Halloway is putting private railcars onto Amtrak, with chef-driven luxury and high design. Welcome to the new era of great American rail vacations. The Return Of Slow Travel, With A Very American Twist For decades, Americans have treated trains like a nostalgia act or a necessary evil. You rode rail for leaf peeping, for the […]
Passengers Turn “Nightmare” British Airways Flight Into Three-Hour “Church Service” At 35,000 Feet
A viral video captures a surprising scene on a recent British Airways flight: passengers turning part of a long journey into an improvised church service, singing and allegedly preaching for three hours. It’s not every day you hear an airborne version of a street evangelist at 35,000 feet, but that’s exactly what unfolded aboard a […]
Delta Just Ordered Dozens Of Widebody Jets. So Where Will They Fly?
Delta Air Lines has quietly positioned itself for the next decade of longhaul growth, and unlike some headline-grabbing route announcements, this one starts with the hardware. Delta’s Widebody Buying Spree: Where Will All Those New A350s And 787s Fly? Delta has been on a widebody shopping spree. Between new Airbus A350-1000s, additional A350-900s, more A330-900neos, […]
United Airlines Teases Premium “Coastliner” A321neo With Lie-Flat Seats
After years of promise and speculation about narrowbody lie-flat seats at United Airlines, it looks like the airline may finally be ready to receive a “Coastliner” A321 aircraft that will represent a genuinely premium upgrade on its transcontinental routes. United Airlines’ Premium Coastliner A321neo Could Transform Transcontinental Flying United Airlines has started showing off a […]
A Violent Midair Assault On American Airlines And A $500 Fine: Is This Really Justice?
A violent midair attack on an American Airlines flight attendant ended with a federal sentence that will leave many flyers and crew members wondering what it takes to actually go to jail… Kansas Man Who Assaulted Flight Attendant Avoids Jail After Midair Attack A Kansas resident who assaulted a flight attendant aboard an American Airlines […]
American Airlines Free Wi-Fi Is Rolling Out, But Not As Fast As Expected
American Airlines has ostensibly rolled out free Wi-Fi across much of its narrowbody fleet, but my experience suggests the rollout is slower than many had anticipated. My Experience With American Airlines Free Wi-Fi Suggests A Slower Rollout On January 6, 2026, American said complimentary Wi-Fi would be available on aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat […]
My Upgrade Dilemma On American Airlines
Two recent flights on American Airlines demonstrated that even AAdvantage Gold status would have been advantageous, though upgrading to first class makes far less sense when economy class is also empty. The Surprising Value Of AAdvantage Gold Status – My Upgrade Dilemma On American Airlines I had to travel from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles […]
Alaska Airlines 737-800 First Class Review: New Seats And Exceptional Service
After the Alaska-Boeing event, I flew Alaska Airlines from Seattle (SEA) to Chicago (ORD) onboard a recently retrofitted 737-800 in first class, enjoying a superb flight with outstanding service. Alaska Airlines 737-800 First Class Review (SEA-ORD) I traveled as a guest of Alaska Airlines. While I have historically turned down these sorts of invitations and […]
Surprisingly, Boeing Is On A Sales Tear, Especially In The Widebody Market
In a surprising shift, Boeing has had an incredibly strong year despite significant, persistent, aircraft approval delays. Airbus is losing on widebodies. For the better part of a decade, the commercial aircraft sales narrative has been painfully predictable. Airbus wins orders, Boeing plays defense, and the industry waits for the next headline about certification delays […]
Frontier Stops Selling Flights After April 13, 2026
Frontier’s booking calendar stops at April 13, 2026. That’s unusual, and it lands right as the ULCC world gets very, very interesting. Frontier’s Schedule Stops On April 13, 2026, Just 85 Days Away If you are trying to book Frontier Airlines for late spring or summer travel, you are not imagining things: Frontier’s booking calendar […]
