Tag: Low Rates

Delta Air Lines is giving its cabins a new look.

The Atlanta-based carrier Tuesday announced plans for a cabin facelift for its planes, featuring updated seat coverings, new mood lighting, and an overall refresh for the airline’s cabin aesthetic across the fleet.

Now, don’t board your next Delta plane expecting to see the updated look; it’ll be a bit of a methodical rollout.

By the end of this year, Delta plans to retrofit one of its Boeing 757 jets serving domestic and short-haul international routes with the new appearance. The new aesthetic will make its way onto a brand-new Delta Airbus A350 serving long-haul routes in early 2025.

However, the carrier eventually hopes to give its entire fleet a new — and uniform— look, Delta said Tuesday.

“This refreshed cabin interior infused utility with beauty to create an atmosphere that feels fresh, elevated, and timeless while reflecting our customers’ evolving tastes and expectations,” Delta vice president of customer experience design Mauricio Parise said in a statement announcing the news.

Delta’s cabin refresh

The changes will be evident as soon as you climb on board a Delta aircraft in the future. The airline’s royal blue seat coverings will be replaced by a much darker color palette, trimmed in bright red striping.

Read more: Delta’s futuristic first-class recliners are coming to the Boeing 737

New Delta branding and motifs will be evident around the cabin, too. Delta’s shooting for an interior that “feels fresh, elevated and timeless,” as the company’s statement put it.

To be clear, Delta’s not getting all-new seats, so don’t expect a major hard product overhaul. This is more of a cosmetic update.

The seats will get a new trim and finish, plus new cushions on its 757s.

On jets with the Delta One cabin, the carrier says its new leather seat covers — atop memory foam — are better for temperature regulation.

And, Premium Select and domestic-style First Class seats will also get memory foam cushions, adorned in leather seat coverings.

Plus, it wouldn’t be a cabin refresh without improved ambient lighting. Delta will offer a variety of mood lighting settings based on the stage of the flight, including a “warm and inviting” setting for boarding, with separate sunset and sunrise tones for overnight flights — not to mention a “candlelight” setting for dinner service.

The cabin itself will get a new trim and look, too, including new dividers featuring a “celestial sky pattern” and additional Delta branding.

New cabin timeline

Again, you won’t see these changes right away. By late 2025, new jets delivered to Delta will have the updated look, a spokesperson told TPG.

Delta has dozens of wide-body aircraft slated for delivery in the coming years, including an order of 20 A350-1000s announced in January. That’s on top of hundreds of additional narrow-body jets from Airbus slated for the fleet in the coming years.

The airline is also planning to retrofit its existing fleet with the new look. However, there’s no timeline, yet, for when those refits might take place:

“Additional aircraft will receive the new cabin design as Delta’s schedule and operation allows over the next few years,” the carrier said.

Delta’s premium push

These aesthetic improvements come as Delta aims to position itself as the top premium airline in the U.S. — a mantle on which it’s gotten increased competition in recent years from United Airlines, itself in the midst of an ambitious cabin overhaul and fleet growth.

Just last week, Delta cut the ribbon on its 10,000-square-foot all-business Delta One Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and has more swanky outposts slated for opening in the coming months.

Executives regularly tout the high-dollar spending charged by its loyal SkyMiles members to its suite of cobranded American Express credit cards. Delta made $1.8 billion from its Amex partnership during the third quarter of this year, the company reported last week.

Now, it seems, the carrier hopes a touch-up for its cabins will give its planes a fresh look in the years to come.

Related reading:

• Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program
• Best Delta credit cards
• What is Delta Air Lines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status in 2023
• How to survive basic economy on Delta Air Lines

Earlier this year, American Airlines promised that it would enable online redemptions for systemwide upgrade certificates.

Well, 2024 is (nearly) coming to a close, and the Fort Worth-based carrier is finally making good on its promise — at least in a limited way.

Beginning on Monday, American has started a limited-time beta test of online redemptions for systemwide upgrades. Select AAdvantage members with unused systemwide upgrades in their accounts were notified on Monday via email that they were part of a beta test.

The test, which will run for two to three weeks, will determine whether American needs to make any changes to the online upgrade portal before rolling it out more broadly, a company spokesperson told TPG.

“This feature is something our members have requested for some time, so we’re eager for the results of this test to inform how we can continue to make engaging with the AAdvantage program easy for our members,” said a company spokesperson.

Unfortunately, the carrier didn’t mention when it would roll out the feature globally despite initially promising to have the functionality available by the end of the year to all AAdvantage members.

In the meantime, at least the carrier seems to be progressing towards its goal.

If you’re one of the lucky AAdvantage members who received an email from American, the online redemption process is pretty simple.

You need to navigate to the linked website and then input your last name and confirmation number. You’ll then be asked which flight you want to prioritize for an upgrade. American recommends that you select the longest flight in your itinerary to maximize your comfort in the pointy end of the plane.

If the flight is available for immediate confirmation — here’s how to check — your itinerary should be upgraded instantly. If it’s not, American will place the flight on the waitlist. The airline said it will also attempt to confirm or waitlist any upgrades on shorter connecting flights after your preferred segment is upgraded.

It wasn’t immediately clear if you could select which systemwide upgrade would be pulled if your upgrade is confirmed. (Presumably it’s the one that expires soonest.)

While this functionality might seem pretty basic, it’s actually quite powerful for elite members who have spent hours on the phone over the years with the AAdvantage service desk applying upgrades to upcoming reservations.

Even if you received the beta invitation, I’d still recommend calling American if you have any complicated upgrade requests.

Still, this is a long-awaited technical improvement, and I, for one, can’t wait to use it on an upcoming flight.

It’s interesting to note that American’s upgrade tech still pales compared to what Delta and United offer. United has long been the leader in this space with a fantastic web and mobile interface for using and redeeming PlusPoints.

Delta debuted the ability to redeem upgrade certificates online at the end of 2022, and that functionality is now live for any eligible elite traveler.

Related reading:

• Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• What is American Airlines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Kimpton Karma Rewards folded into the IHG loyalty program in early 2018. But, to the delight of Kimpton loyalists, Kimpton Inner Circle status still exists within the IHG One Rewards program.

Kimpton Inner Circle is an invite-only status that offers perks at Kimpton hotels and restaurants. Unlike other IHG elite status tiers, there aren’t published qualification requirements for Kimpton Inner Circle. And, unlike InterContinental Ambassador membership, you can’t buy Kimpton Inner Circle status.

Here’s what you should know about Kimpton Inner Circle membership, including how to get an invite.

How to get Kimpton Inner Circle

You must satisfy two requirements to receive an invite to Kimpton’s Inner Circle. First, you must be an IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite member. Second, you must show loyalty to Kimpton by meeting unpublished criteria.

Now, let’s look at these two Kimpton Inner Circle requirements.

IHG Diamond Elite status

To earn IHG Diamond Elite status, you’ll usually need to complete 70 elite-qualifying nights or earn 120,000 elite-qualifying points during the calendar year. Once you earn Diamond Elite status, you’ll keep it through the end of the following calendar year.

Cardmembers of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card get automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as they remain cardmembers. However, these cardmembers can secure Diamond Elite status through the end of the following calendar year if they make purchases totaling $40,000 or more with one of these IHG Premier cards during a calendar year.

Loyalty to Kimpton

IHG doesn’t publish specific loyalty criteria for Kimpton Inner Circle. However, I assume qualification is based on how frequently you stay with Kimpton properties and how much you spend at Kimpton properties.

Related: The top Kimpton Hotels across the world, according to IHG Diamond members

Kimpton Inner Circle benefits

You must hold IHG Diamond Elite status to become eligible for an invite to Kimpton’s Inner Circle. So, you’ll get Diamond Elite benefits at all IHG brands, and you’ll get Diamond Elite and Inner Circle perks when staying at Kimpton properties.

Specifically, Kimpton Inner Circle members can expect the following extra perks at Kimpton hotels.

Inner Circle amenity

During each stay, Kimpton will provide a favorite snack and drink as an in-room amenity. You can set your preferences in your online profile or by calling the Inner Circle VIP line.

Each hotel will do its best to provide a snack and beverage that meets your preferences, but you may not get exactly what you request during every stay.

Chef’s taste

When you eat dinner at participating Kimpton restaurants, you can enjoy a complimentary chef’s taste. The chef’s taste is usually a small appetizer or dessert.

You don’t need to stay with Kimpton to enjoy a chef’s taste while having dinner, but you do need to let the restaurant staff know you’re an Inner Circle member.

Kimpton Inner Circle free night

Inner Circle members get one new hotel free night certificate each calendar year if they’ve stayed at three or more different Kimpton properties in the previous 12 months. Members can use the new free night at select new Kimpton properties in North America based on availability and at the property’s discretion. However, although the new hotel free night covers the cost of the room, you’ll still need to pay for incidental charges, taxes and fees.

Guaranteed 1-category room upgrade

Kimpton Inner Circle members are guaranteed a one-category upgrade above the room type booked when checking in to Kimpton hotels. When staying at Kimpton properties that price all room types the same, you’ll get a room in a better location.

This benefit doesn’t include upgrades to presidential suites, specialty suites or suites with two or more bedrooms. Additionally, if you use a suite upgrade earned through the IHG Milestone Rewards program, you won’t be eligible for an additional room upgrade at check-in due to your Inner Circle status.

Related: How to earn and redeem IHG food and beverage rewards

Guaranteed early check-in and late checkout

You can check in beginning at 10 a.m. on your arrival day. If your room isn’t available early, you can use another room until yours is ready. You can also keep your room as late as 4 p.m. on your departure day.

Waived amenity fees

When staying at Kimpton properties, you won’t need to pay guest amenity or destination fees, but you’ll still need to pay resort fees and surcharges.

This might seem like a convenient loophole, but when I looked at several popular Kimpton hotels, each property advertised guest amenity fees instead of resort fees.

Premium internet

When staying at Kimpton hotels, you’ll get complimentary internet at the property’s highest speed.

VIP phone line

You’ll also get access to a VIP phone line connecting you with Inner Circle agents. These agents can assist with IHG reservations and answer questions about Diamond Elite and Inner Circle benefits. Even if you don’t call IHG frequently, these agents can make the process better when you need to do so.

Related: Best IHG beach hotels, ranging from family-friendly resorts to luxury stays

Bottom line

Kimpton Inner Circle membership only provides perks at Kimpton properties. But, unlike InterContinental Ambassador (another brand-specific status in the IHG program), you can’t purchase Kimpton Inner Circle. Instead, you must earn Diamond Elite status and hit unpublished loyalty thresholds with Kimpton to get an invite. However, with all the perks and benefits offered, loyalty to IHG (and Kimpton, in particular) could be worthwhile.

Related reading:

• Terrific location but an unkempt room: A review of the Kimpton Hotel Eventi in New York City
• Perfectly fine but nothing special: My stay at the Kimpton Gray in Chicago
• 5 things you’ll love (and 2 you might not) about the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo
• Dramatic views and even a pool in the heart of Paris: A review of Kimpton St Honore Paris
• Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix review: When can I check in again?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information

Each year, as cool nights and changing leaves descend upon the northern hemisphere, skiers and riders head straight for their gear rooms, dusting off their skis or boards in anticipation of the impending ski season. Dreams of bottomless, untouched powder become the nightly norm while obsessively checking the long-range winter forecast and ski area opening dates fill the work day.

While forecasts can help narrow down your choices on where to go this winter, opting for destinations with flexible hotel bookings and airfare or waiting until the last minute (if that’s in the budget) will increase the odds of ending up in a snow globe rather than having to pick your way between mud patches on the slopes.

Forecasters are predicting a La Nina weather pattern ahead of the 2024-25 ski season, which tends to favor western resorts. During the last La Nina, during the 2022-23 ski season, ski areas across California and Utah smashed snowfall records. But that doesn’t necessarily mean destinations in the Northeast and Colorado should be written off just yet.

Knowing your priorities is important when considering the best ski resort. For some, the “best” ski resort is one where deep powder and steep slopes take center stage, even if the only nearby lodging option is the back of your car in the parking lot. Others might prioritize ski resorts with high-end hotels despite crowded lift lines that make it nearly impossible to get more than a handful of runs in during the day.

Regardless of where on this spectrum you fall, the United States has seemingly endless ski resorts to choose from. Below is a guide to some of the most popular and why each might be the best for you.

Aspen Snowmass Resort

From the expert runs of Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands to the expansive and family-friendly terrain of far larger Snowmass, this 5,500-acre complex encompasses four skiing and snowboarding areas. It lives up to its reputation as the definitive all-in-one ski destination and one of the best Colorado ski resorts. And thanks to the 2023 addition of a high-speed quad and a significant terrain expansion on Aspen Mountain, there will be plenty to explore this winter.

Despite its upscale image, there’s plenty of fun here. Go tubing and snow biking under the stars at Elk Camp or ice-karting around a frozen lake in nearby Roaring Fork Valley.

What to know

Each of the four Aspen Snowmass ski resorts has its own personality. Aspen Mountain is known for its challenging terrain and easy access to town and nightlife, while Aspen Highlands is famed for its expert runs. Families and beginners can’t do better than the gentle slopes of Buttermilk, especially the tot-friendly Panda Peak and the teenager favorite X Park.

Snowmass offers equally easy access while still pleasing thrill-seekers with its 4,400-foot rise. Speaking of thrills, no other resort offers an experience like the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which whizzes through the forest on an elevated track.

Where to eat

Hit Aspen Public House for burgers and truffle potatoes or Spring Cafe for soups, salads and creative breakfast scrambles. Try the French bistro cuisine at Betula or the dry-aged prime rib at Catch Steak for something more celebratory.

Where to stay

Where you stay depends on your budget and the mountain resort you want to ski. There are plenty of choices; luckily, Aspen has some of the best ski hotels in the U.S.

The Mollie Aspen is a great option for those looking for a quieter, simple boutique hotel in the center of town. The St. Regis Aspen Resort is ideal if you’re hoping for a dose of luxury just a few steps from the lifts at Aspen Mountain.

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Rates start around $2,000 or 130,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season on select midweek dates, although weekends can exceed $3,000 per night. Depending on the number of nights booked and specific dates, nights can be as low as 90,000  points early season.

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Rates start around $1,150 on select nights during ski season or from 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, all plus a $65-per-night resort fee.

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Rates start at $2,000 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $550 per night during ski season, or 80,000 points per night during ski season, plus a $50 daily resort fee.

Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort

With the 2014 addition of the Canyons ski resort increasing its size to 7,300 acres, Park City arguably became the largest ski resort in the United States. It’s second only to Whistler Blackcomb in North America. And thanks to major snowmaking upgrades on some of Park City’s popular trails, they anticipate an earlier-than-usual opening date this season.

Deer Valley Resort, just 3 miles away, offers skiers a premium experience with high-touch service; snowboarders are still banned from the impeccably maintained slopes.

In 2023, Deer Valley’s parent company, Alterra Mountain Company, announced a historic expansion incorporating the Mayflower Mountain Resort into Deer Valley. This will double the skiable terrain and add 16 new lifts and a 10-passenger gondola to the slopes. Deer Valley will also debut 300 new skiable acres for the 2024-25 ski season.

What to know

A new eight-person gondola now connects Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons from peak to peak, making access easy. Snowboarders are out of luck at Deer Valley, one of the three last American resorts open only to skiers. Luckily, Park City and Canyons are snowboarders’ favorites.

Where to eat

As one of the best ski towns in the U.S., Park City has no shortage of terrific dining options. You’ll find plenty of chef-driven culinary haunts along Main Street, including Riverhorse on Main, Grappa and Chimayo. Though you’ll pay handsomely for the scenery and prime location, a younger crowd flocks to places like High West Saloon and No Name Saloon. Locals tend to frequent places off the tourist trail, such as Five5eeds, fresh, healthy fare purveyors, or Sammy’s Bistro, a local institution.

The Swiss Alps come to Utah at Deer Valley Resort’s Fireside Dining, where you can feast on warm raclette cheese and classic fondue after arriving by horse-drawn sleigh.

Where to stay

Plenty of fabulous lodges allow you to park your skis at the end of the day on the slopes. The big decision is whether to stay closer to Deer Valley or Park City. The decision is easy for snowboarders or families with snowboarders since they aren’t welcome at Deer Valley.

But for skiers, the decision is less straightforward. Regardless of where you’re skiing, staying close to Park City Mountain Resort or Canyons is an option. They are quite literally side by side and connected by the Quicksilver gondola once you are on the mountain.

Staying at Deer Valley is a better option for those looking for a more luxurious, secluded, high-end vibe, while Park City lends itself to a more laid-back, casual experience. If you want to walk from bar to bar or explore different restaurants on foot, staying closer to Park City is a better bet.

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Winter rates at the St. Regis Deer Valley start at just under $1,200 or 122,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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Winter rates at the Montage Deer Valley start at around $1,550 per night.

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Rates start at $430 per night in low season, around $1,100 in high season or 110,000 Hilton Honors points.

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Rates start at around $600 per night or 29,000 World of Hyatt points during ski season and around $300 per night during the offseason. There is also a $40 daily resort fee.

Related: Brian Head — the affordable Utah ski resort where lift tickets start at $29

Breckenridge, Colorado

A Western-chic vibe still pervades this historic 19th-century mining town. The resort’s Five Peaks frame a bustling main street lined with gingerbread-bedecked clapboard buildings.

An all-season destination known for mountain biking and hiking almost as much as it is for skiing, “Breck” hosts a year-round roster of festivals and events. This includes the International Snow Sculpture Championships, which turn the town into a magical fantasyland of ice during the last week of January every year.

The fun vibe continues in town which you can reach via the free BreckConnect gondola. From the top of the Imperial SuperChair — the highest chairlift in North America, which sits 12,840 feet above sea level — you can take the trails directly from the slopes into town.

What to know

At 9,600 feet above sea level, Breck is among the highest-altitude towns in the U.S. As such, it has become known for early fall color, snowfall and late snowmelt, with good snow conditions typical into late spring. And with such a wide variety of lodging around town, it’s no surprise that Breck has some of the best ski lodges in the U.S.

Where to eat

Dine on elk and buffalo while listening to jazz and blues at Blue River Bistro, known for its three-hour happy hour. Or, class it up at Legends Steak & Seafood, where the butcher’s cut of the day is reliably excellent. The restaurant at Breckenridge Distillery is almost as beloved for its celebratory atmosphere and eclectic menu of small plates as it is for its world-class whiskey.

Tip: Take a tour of the Breckenridge Distillery if you have time.

Where to stay

More casual than some of Colorado’s glitzy ski destinations, Breckenridge still has some wonderful places to stay. Hotels like the Residence Inn are perfect for enjoying the town; its location on Main Street makes it the perfect place to enjoy the nightlife after a long day of skiing or riding. And with the number of restaurants, shops and bars in Breck, it’s worth leaving the slopes and wandering around town.

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Rates from around $360 per night during ski season, or 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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Rates from $389 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $471 per night during ski season or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (though they can be difficult to find).

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Jackson Hole is a bucket list destination for expert skiers looking to prove themselves on its craggy slopes and famously steep chutes like the infamous Corbet’s Couloir. Beginning and intermediate skiers will also find some gentler trails and recently expanded intermediate terrain.

What to know

It’s only a 15-minute ride up the mountain on the aerial tram affectionately dubbed Big Red, but get there early during peak times to avoid lines. Families and beginners will love the recently opened Solitude Station ski school and learning hub that offers lessons, rentals and fire pits to make waiting more pleasant.

Where to eat

There’s no lunch spot like Piste Mountain Bistro at the top of the Bridger gondola, where a glass wall showcases mountaintop views. Gather, a local favorite, serves up modern American comfort fare in an unusual round dining room surrounded by a spacious patio. The top-of-the-world waffles at Corbet’s Cabin are a must.

Where to stay

Rustic-chic is the name of the game when it comes to luxurious lodges in this former frontier town. Many lodging options, like the Caldera House and the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Teton Village, are higher-end properties that focus on the amenities and a luxurious off-slope experience. There are also more affordable options, like the Snake River Lodge and Spa, a luxury mountain resort slightly less high-end than other properties.

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Rates start at just over $500 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $1,360 per night in high season, plus a 10% occupancy fee.

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Rates start at around $3,000 per night in high season.

Palisades Tahoe

As you’d expect from a resort that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and trained 1998 gold medalist, Jonny Moseley, Palisades Tahoe is the resort of choice for expert skiers drawn to extra-steep runs, including several newly designated double black diamonds. But it might come as a surprise to learn that the terrain at today’s resort is almost evenly divided among beginner, intermediate and expert.

Palisades Tahoe has recently undergone several major improvements, including a multimillion-dollar Gold Coast midmountain lodge renovation.

What to know

Two base areas, the Village and Alpine (the former Alpine Meadows, now part of Palisades), are linked by a brand-new base-to-base gondola, making it possible to ski both in one day. Unlike most resorts, Palisades has beginner areas at the top of the mountain at the 8,200-foot High Camp, accessible by an aerial tram.

Related: From hidden gems to big names: Here are 11 of California’s best ski resorts

Where to eat

Take a lunch break with 8,200-foot views at High Camp’s Granite Bistro, which overlooks the pool and hot tub, or savor kebabs and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare at Mogrog Cafe in the Alpine base camp. Off-resort on the banks of the Truckee River, the River Ranch Lodge serves elk ribs, bison chops, scallops, calamari and ahi poke alongside more conventional pub-style fare.

Where to stay

More casual and laid-back than other ski resorts, Palisades Tahoe has plenty of accommodation options for travelers of various inclinations.

Unlike destinations like Aspen — where luxurious rooms and top-notch spa treatments are just as (if not more) important than the skiing itself — the Tahoe area has accommodations perfect for winding down between long days of skiing. That’s not to say there aren’t some nice places to stay (like North Tahoe’s PlumpJack Inn), but they’re just a bit more casual than the hotels frequently found in some of the higher-end destinations.

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Rates start at $250 per night for a studio midweek during ski season.

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Rates start at around $400 per night during ski season.

Sun Valley Resort

Ernest Hemingway finished “For Whom the Bell Tolls” there; Tom Hanks, Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Lee Curtis own homes there; and so many Hollywood celebrities vacation there that it’s known as New Hollywood North. Yet Sun Valley, Idaho, has plenty to offer the rest of us, from the beginner terrain on Dollar Mountain to the pristine and well-groomed trails on Bald Mountain. It also gets more than 250 days of sunshine a year.

What to know

Dollar Mountain lures beginners with easy-to-navigate trails while experts head for Bald Mountain, or “Baldy,” for black diamond runs. Sunrise, a 380-acre terrain park that opened in 2020, expands the resort’s skiable acres by 20%. And in December of 2023, Sun Valley improved the Warm Springs part of the resort with several new lift installations and an additional 54 acres of gladed terrain.

Related: Sleigh rides and snowball fights: Top 8 ski resorts for people who don’t like to ski

Where to eat

Pub-style food and a convivial atmosphere make Warfield Distillery & Brewery a good place to chat with locals and catch the occasional live band.

Where to stay

While Sun Valley is no secret, it gets much less recognition than other major ski destinations throughout North America. Naturally, the accommodations will be much more laid-back and affordable than the higher-end inns and lodges at places like Breckenridge and Jackson Hole.

That said, Limelight does have a location in nearby Ketchum, which emulates its successful property in Aspen. And just because it gets less recognition (although that seems to be changing recently) doesn’t mean the skiing or lodging experiences are any less noteworthy.

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Rates start at around $600 per night.

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Rates start at around $559 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $211 or from 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Steamboat, Colorado

In Colorado’s Yampa Valley, the town now known as Steamboat Springs served as an important hunting ground for the Ute tribe; the area’s natural springs were also culturally significant for the Yampatika Ute and Arapaho tribes. When a railroad was built in the early 20th century, the region became important for ranching, but it wouldn’t be long before skiing followed.

Today, the ski area pays tribute to its past with events like the Cowboy Downhill race, which is exactly what it sounds like: a rowdy time with professional rodeo cowboys competing in a race that includes slalom, a jump, lassos and horses.

What to know

The resort completed a $220 million, three-year development project for the 2023-24 ski season — the largest in resort history.

The project’s final phase adds 655 acres of skiable expert terrain, bumping Steamboat up to the second-largest resort in the state. The recently installed upper section of the Wild Blue gondola makes it the fastest and longest 10-person gondola in North America. Steamboat is approximately a four-hour drive from Denver, but there is nonstop flight service to nearby Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) from 16 major cities nationwide.

Where to eat

There are plenty of options for food around Steamboat. There are casual spots like TBar — set in an old ski patrol building and offers empanadas and sandwiches like a pork belly BLT — and higher-end culinary experiences like Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails, specializing in smoked and cured foods.

Where to stay

Steamboat has plenty of lodging options. Gravity Haus has a ski-in, ski-out location for those who don’t want to waste time before getting to the slopes in the morning. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas is also an on-mountain hotel with great access to and views of the slopes.

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Rates start at around $350 per night during ski season, and Bonvoy points bookings are typically unavailable during high-demand times, like ski season. Rooms tend to get booked far in advance, so planning will help you lock in cheaper rates.

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Rates start at $350 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $330 per night during ski season.

Big Sky Resort

Halfway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone in Montana’s Madison Range, Big Sky is the out-of-the-way destination every skier dreams of.

The resort became another contender for one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S. with the 2013 addition of Moonlight Basin, bringing the total skiable acres to 5,850. There are even lifts and runs connecting Big Sky to the privately owned 2,200-acre Yellowstone Club, open only to those owning property or staying there.

Big Sky is also nearing the end of a 10-year upgrade project, which includes a new network of lifts, new food and beverage options, and a new Lone Peak tram with an all-glass viewing platform at the offload point (and glass floors in the tram itself).

What to know

Four connected mountains and seven terrain parks give Big Sky various runs and conditions. It also boasts the second-longest vertical drop in the U.S., an adrenaline-surging 4,350 feet from the top of Lone Peak.

Where to eat

Fuel up for the day at Blue Moon Bakery, serving a mean pizza. Celebrate a special occasion — or a successful day on the slopes — at Alpenglow, the Montage’s swanky brasserie.

Where to stay

Thanks to cozy town hotels and new over-the-top luxury lodges, Big Sky is quickly becoming one of the country’s premier ski resorts to visit. Despite Big Sky being less crowded and popular than some of North America’s megaresorts, there are still plenty of lodging options. Options range from high-end resorts like Montage Big Sky to the Summit Hotel, which has a bit more of a “standard” hotel feel.

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Rates start at around $1,300 per night.

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Rates start at around $560 per night.

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Rates start at $348 or 57,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season.

Killington Resort

Living up to its nickname of the Beast of the East, Killington boasts the most trails and terrain parks of any resort in New England. The 3,000-acre resort in the Green Mountains also prides itself on being the first to open and last to close, often keeping the snow on at least one trail as late as June.

What to know

The Snowshed base area is the perfect starting point for beginners, while Ramshead is Killington’s playground, making it one of the best family ski resorts. Serious skiers head for Killington Peak, known as K-1, which has the resort’s most challenging terrain, including the second-largest vertical drop on the Eastern Seaboard.

Where to eat

Pizza and calzones from Domenic’s will fill up the family, while The Foundry is the local hot spot for a festive meal. Lookout Tavern is a lively spot for beer and the family basics, including a large, well-priced kids menu.

Where to stay

Even in a little ski destination like this, your hotel points could be handy at places like the Killington Mountain Lodge, a Hilton property. Killington is known for its lively nightlife (check out the Wobbly Barn for an iconic apres-ski scene), but since the town is relatively small, it’s pretty quick and easy to get around regardless of where you stay.

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Rates start at $400 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $200 per night during ski season, or 60,000 Hilton Honors Points.

Stowe Resort

Despite its location in northern Vermont, where the “big” ski destinations pale compared to the resorts out west, Stowe has diverse terrain, plenty of snow and an overall vibe comparable to any quintessential ski destination in the country.

At Stowe, skiers and riders are treated to 485 acres of mellow, groomed runs, exhilarating meadows and plenty of steep, natural terrain.

The resort is also located just minutes from Stowe’s downtown area, which is about as “New England” as it gets. Iconic white steeple churches sit in the foreground of Vermont’s rolling Green Mountains, and the streets are lined with cafes, restaurants and breweries, perfect for exploring after a day on the slopes.

What to know

Vail Resorts purchased Stowe in 2017, making it their first East Coast resort. Buying an Epic Pass provides huge cost savings when visiting Stowe, Breckenridge and any of Vail’s other resorts. Stowe also tends to get busy by East Coast standards, so visiting mid-week and avoiding vacation weeks is for the best. The resort is split between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, giving it the feel of two resorts in one. The Mansfield side is larger, with more expert terrain, but the Spruce Peak side still has its share of challenging runs.

Where to eat

Rural New England isn’t necessarily known for its culinary scene, but Stowe stands out against the rest of the region. Not only is it home to one of the best breweries around — The Alchemist (creator of Heady Topper, the first New England-style IPA) — but it has endless high-quality restaurants to choose from. Check out Doc Ponds, just up the road from the resort, with standard bar fare, like chicken sandwiches and burgers. For the beer lover in the family, their selection of local craft beers from famed breweries like Hill Farmstead is top-notch. Idyltime Brewing Company is another worthy option, with a rotating menu often featuring half-roasted chicken and Vermont mac and cheese.

Where to stay

You won’t find many big-name hotel brands around Stowe, which is part of the charm. Instead of luxury Marriott properties, the town has plenty of family-owned bed and breakfasts and lodges. But there are a few options for those looking to utilize and earn those points.

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Rates start at $400 per night plus a $45 nightly room fee or 45,000 World of Hyatt points during ski season.

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Rates start at around $200 per night during ski season.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

 

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Many of the best travel rewards cards provide valuable premium travel benefits. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer many perks, including complimentary entry to Centurion Lounges and extra benefits on luxury hotel stays booked through the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program.

But one benefit these two cards offer is often overlooked: the ability to enroll in complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Here’s what you need to know about hotel status with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum.

What is this benefit?

Cardmembers of The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express — including authorized users with additional Platinum or Business Platinum cards — can enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status.

Once enrolled, you’ll maintain at least Gold status if you keep your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum account open (assuming American Express continues to offer this benefit for your card).

Related: Complete guide to authorized users on the Amex Platinum Card

How do I enroll?

To enroll in either (or both) complimentary hotel elite statuses, log in to your American Express account, click on “Rewards & Benefits” in the top navigation bar and then select “Benefits.” Scroll down — you may need to expand a “Premium Travel” section — to find separate icons for Hilton and Marriott.

Click “Learn More” in either (or both) tiles for more information. If you want to enroll, click “Enroll Now” and enter your member number with the hotel loyalty program. This online enrollment process should work for both primary and additional Platinum cardholders, but you can also enroll by calling the customer service number on the back of your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum card.

Once you request enrollment, American Express will share your enrollment information with the hotel loyalty programs, which will upgrade your status to Gold if you currently hold a lower status. The upgrade usually takes three to five business days but could take longer, so don’t wait until just before a trip to enroll in these benefits.

Related: Here’s how much value you can get from the Amex Platinum card in your first year

What are the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status?

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status usually requires you to accrue at least 25 elite night credits per calendar year. As a Marriott Gold Elite member, you’ll have access to the following benefits:

• 25% more points on stays: Earn 25% more points than base-level members on eligible hotel purchases at participating Marriott properties.
• Enhanced room upgrades: The Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions note that Gold Elite members may receive a complimentary upgrade to “rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors” at participating properties. However, each hotel is left to identify room upgrades; some brands don’t offer complimentary upgrades, and upgrades are subject to availability.
• Late checkout at 2 p.m.: Get 2 p.m. late checkout at participating brands upon request (based on availability).
• Enhanced internet: Enjoy complimentary enhanced internet when staying at participating properties.
• Welcome points: Get 250 or 500 welcome points per stay at participating brands.

In addition to the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum, several Marriott Bonvoy cards provide automatic elite status. For example, you can get automatic Gold Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers automatic Platinum Elite status.

Related: 29 best Marriott hotels in the world

What are the benefits of Hilton Honors Gold status?

Hilton Honors Gold status usually requires that you stay 40 nights per calendar year, stay 20 times per calendar year or earn 75,000 Hilton Honors base points per calendar year. As a Hilton Gold member, you’ll have access to the following benefits:

• 80% elite status bonus on stays: Receive an 80% bonus on the Hilton Honors base points you earn on stays.
• Continental breakfast or a daily food-and-beverage credit: Some brands provide breakfast for all guests as a brand amenity. But at most other brands, you can select a daily food-and-beverage credit (at select brands in the U.S. and at Motto by Hilton properties globally) or daily complimentary continental breakfast (at select brands outside the U.S., excluding Motto by Hilton) for yourself and up to one other guest registered to your room as a MyWay benefit.
• Space-available room upgrades: Gold members may receive a complimentary upgrade to preferred rooms up to Executive Floor room types. The Hilton Honors terms and conditions note that “Preferred rooms may also include those not on the Executive Floor but conferring Executive Lounge access (excluding the Sakura Club at Conrad Washington, D.C and Club Signia at Signia by Hilton hotels), the next-best available room types, rooms with desirable views or amenities or other rooms identified as ‘preferred’ by the hotel and may vary within each brand.” Additionally, upgrades are “granted on a space-available basis for the entire stay,” and some brands and properties don’t participate in complimentary upgrades.
• Fifth night free: Hilton elite members get every fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when booking a reward stay of five nights or more using points.

In addition to the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum, you’ll also get automatic Hilton Gold status if you have the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. Additionally, you can get automatic top-tier Hilton Diamond status as a perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The 20 best Hilton hotels in the world

Bottom line

Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status provide some valuable perks, so it’s great that cardmembers of The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express can enroll in these statuses as a perk of their card.

Getting Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold Elite status through the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum can be useful if you don’t stay frequently enough with these programs to earn elite status organically and don’t want to add a hotel credit card to your wallet.

However, having the Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum won’t help you earn higher status with either program. After all, unlike select Marriott Bonvoy cards that provide elite night credits as a cardholder perk, you won’t get Marriott Bonvoy elite night credits as a benefit of the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Many hotel loyalty programs have shifted to dynamic pricing, making it difficult to know how many points you’ll need for each hotel night on your upcoming vacation.

Will your free night certificate be sufficient? Or will you be priced out, with hotels requiring more points than the value of your free night certificate?

Here’s how to search for hotel stays with free night certificates by filtering for hotels that match the value of your free night award.

Hilton Honors

You can use Hilton free night awards any night of the week (an improvement over the previous weekend restriction) at nearly any Hilton property. (The list of exclusions is here.) While you must redeem these awards over the phone, you should still search for availability online first, verifying that the hotel you want has standard rooms available on the night you want.

Here’s a search using Hilton Honors points in Honolulu.

Next to the points value, look for the words “standard room reward.” You need standard room availability to use your Hilton free night reward. Once you’ve found a property you like, call Hilton at 800-446-6677.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy might be the most complex program on this list for using free night certificates. It issues free night certificates with multiple values.

When searching for a hotel in Seattle, the results are overwhelming. Below the numbers of rooms and guests, click on “All Filters.”

From here, you can filter for hotels in certain point bands. Choose the band that aligns with your free night award’s maximum value.

If you’re using a 35,000-point certificate, choose the 0-40,000 points option. Now, you’ll have a more manageable list of hotels to consider.

Related: How to use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate

Remember that this will show hotels charging up to 40,000 points — a bit more than what your free night is worth. You can only choose hotels your free night award covers in full. Or, you can choose hotels that cost up to 15,000 points more than your free night’s value — topping up the award with your Marriott points.

See these for some booking inspiration:

• 7 great uses of Marriott 35,000-point free night certificates
• 13 ways to redeem the Marriott 50K free night award
• 8 places to maximize an 85,000-point Marriott award night certificate

World of Hyatt

Start your search after logging into your World of Hyatt account. Click on “Awards” to see any free nights available in your account.

You can search for a location (but not specific dates) from here.

This search for San Francisco hotels provides numerous results. Clicking “Filters” in the top right allows you to select which categories of hotels you want to see. If you have a Category 1-4 free night (such as the annual award provided by the World of Hyatt Credit Card), select only hotel Categories 1-4.

Related: Incredible World of Hyatt credit card offer: Earn 5 free nights with this best-ever bonus

Now, you have a manageable list of which properties match the value of your free night award.

This doesn’t show availability on particular dates — just which hotels might work. Five hotels match the Category 1-4 free night award, so you can check availability at whichever hotel you prefer.

Related: How to earn, use and make the most of your Hyatt free night certificates

Bottom line

You might see numerous results on your intended travel dates when searching for hotels. Unfortunately, not all of these hotels can be booked with your free night awards.

Understanding how to limit your search results to hotels that match the value of your free night certificate makes for a better booking experience. It provides realistic options and makes the decision process easier, ensuring you can always redeem those valuable certificates.

On many a cruise, rubber ducks can be found peeking out from random hiding places, beckoning passengers to pick them up and read their accompanying information tags. Perhaps you’ll find one hidden behind a plant by the Doe family from Springfield or another carefully placed somewhere in the buffet by the Smiths from Greenville.

What the duck, you might be wondering, is the deal with hiding ducks on cruise ships?

As an avid duck hider, let me clue you in to this popular onboard pastime. Whether you’re ready to hide ducks on cruises or want to send your kids on a hunt for cruise ducks, you’ll need to get your own ducks in a row before you set sail.

Cruise ship rubber ducks, explained

Cruisers often bring rubber ducks on cruises in an effort to have a bit of fun by hiding them throughout the ship. The ducks usually have information cards attached to them bearing the names of the people who hid them and where those passengers are from.

What began in 2018 as a cute gesture by a 10-year-old girl named Abby — who simply wanted to make other passengers smile — now spans several Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands of members. In these groups, cruisers chat about the ducks they’ve ordered, the best places to purchase them, clever places to hide them after they’ve set sail and the best ways to attach the information tags.

The largest group I’ve been able to find — yes, I’m a member — is Cruising Ducks – Original, which encourages people to share photos of the ducks they plan to hide as well as ducks they’ve found on board. Think of it a bit like geocaching, but simpler — and with ducks.

What to do if you find cruise ship ducks

If you find a duck, the next step is simple. Take a photo of yourself with the duck you’ve found and post it to the Cruising Ducks – Original Facebook group. Mention the name of the person who hid it. You might also choose to reach out to thank them if they have provided contact information on the card attached to the duck.

Then, either keep your new friend to take home with you as a souvenir or rehide it according to the below rules.

Rules for hiding ducks on a cruise

It might sound silly, but there are rules for hiding rubber ducks on cruises. The first is that you should never put it in a pool or hot tub. You wouldn’t want an excited child or inebriated passenger to fall in and drown or hurt themselves while attempting to fetch it.

Second, don’t hide ducks in any of the onboard shops. If someone finds one hidden there and tries to take it with them, it could appear as though they’re stealing something.

Third, don’t place ducks where they might fall overboard. It’s a huge no-no to toss anything into the ocean, even by accident.

When choosing ducks, the sky is the limit. I’ve seen everything from mini ducks to giant ones that are a foot tall. You can find simple, classic yellow ducks in bulk online or you can choose to go all-out and purchase custom ones in a color or design that suits your personality. You might also choose to order plain ones and decorate them yourself with feathers, glitter or paint. Really, anything goes in terms of theme.

Some participants even choose to vary it a bit by hiding other duck-themed toys or objects, such as duck keychains, hand-crocheted ducks, duck-shaped Hot Wheels cars or small LEGO duck kits.

On a couple of my recent sailings, I won some inexpensive mini ducks by playing a claw game in the onboard arcade, and I used spare hair ties to attach my business card to them. It was a last-minute improvisation, but boy, was it fun. Hiding them also kept the young daughter of one of my travel companions busy for an afternoon.

For the tags, make sure to include your name and where you’re from, along with instructions for the people who find your little quackers. Standard wording is generally something like this:

“Oh, what luck. You found a duck! Keep or hide, you decide. You found a cruising duck hidden by [name] from [city, state, country]. Hide in public places only — no pools, hot tubs or stores. Take a photo, and post it in the Facebook group Cruising Ducks — Original.”

At a minimum, the tag should tell the duck’s finders that they can either keep or rehide the duck and the places that are off-limits. It should also encourage them to share the ducks they find online. You can also choose to include additional information, such as a QR code or your e-mail address.

Cruise lines that have banned cruise ducks

For reasons unknown, a couple of cruise lines have recently cracked down on duck hiding. In particular, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line have asked passengers to refrain from hiding rubber ducks on cruises. Although there are no severe consequences for hiding them anyway, it’s best to be aware of these lines’ policies.

Bottom line

If you’re hiding ducks, be sure to adhere to the rules. If you find a duck, whether you keep it or rehide it, be sure to post a photo per the accompanying instructions.

Hiding rubber ducks on cruise ships is a fun way to connect with other passengers on your next sailing, as well as an entertaining pastime on sea days. Whether you find a duck and contact the folks who hid it or hide your own flock so others can reach out to you, it can help you to make new friends from all corners of the globe.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

United Airlines is gearing up for its biggest — and perhaps most exciting — summer season yet.

On Thursday, the Chicago-based carrier unveiled a blockbuster expansion that includes a whopping eight new international destinations and 13 new routes.

In recent years, United (and its competitors) have turned their summer expansions into a grand reveal, with teasers posted on social media in the hours leading up to the announcement, followed by splashy press releases with exciting details of all the new places you can go.

But this announcement — United’s largest international expansion yet — is unlike any other we’ve seen from a major U.S. airline in recent history. In fact, it includes a slew of exotic, off-the-beaten-path destinations that are likely to impress, assuming that you can place them all on a map. (As for me, I didn’t even know the airport codes for some of United’s new destinations.)

Here’s everything you need to know to start planning your summer trip. And if you’re ready to book, all the new flights are already available for sale (except Nuuk, Greenland, and Dakar, Senegal — those are coming soon).

United unveils 8 new destinations

Beginning in May 2025, United will add eight new destinations to its network. The full list is available below.

Route	Start date	Seasonality	Frequency	Aircraft
Newark to Bilbao, Spain	May 31, 2025	Seasonal	Three times weekly	Boeing 757-200
Newark to Faro, Portugal	May 16, 2025	Seasonal	Four times weekly	Boeing 757-200
Newark to Madeira, Portugal	June 7, 2025	Seasonal	Three times weekly	Boeing 737 MAX 8
Newark to Nuuk	June 14, 2025	Seasonal	Twice weekly	Boeing 737 MAX 8
Newark to Palermo, Italy	May 21, 2025	Seasonal	Three times weekly	Boeing 767-400
Tokyo to Kaohsiung, Taiwan	July 11, 2025	Year-round	Daily	Boeing 737-800
Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	May 1, 2025	Seasonal	Three times weekly	Boeing 737-800
Washington, D.C. to Dakar	May 23, 2025	Year-round	Three times weekly	Boeing 767-300

Seven of the eight new destinations aren’t served by any other U.S. airline — Delta Air Lines flies to Dakar from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Technically, Delta will also soon fly from New York to Sicily in Italy, but Delta chose Catania as its primary Sicilian gateway while United is opting for Palermo.

It’s interesting that we’re jumping from no U.S. nonstops to Sicily to suddenly having two as of next summer — something that’s likely to please “The White Lotus” fans.

Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Otherwise, this list of new routes feels markedly different from any other recent announcements from United. You’ll notice that there are no new flights to London, Paris, Rome or even Athens, Greece, some of the tried-and-true destinations that consistently draw scores of American tourists each summer.

Of course, United already flies to many of the top European destinations (with two additional new transatlantic routes taking off next summer, as detailed below), but it’s interesting to compare United’s announcement with the recent expansions unveiled by American Airlines and Delta.

American and Delta are still very much focused on the pre-coronavirus pandemic playbook of boosting service to popular European destinations, such as Athens, Rome and Edinburgh, Scotland.

United and its network planning team, led by Patrick Quayle, are charting their own course. They continue to add service to far-flung destinations that might first elicit a “where’s that?” question when you read the announcement.

Which strategy works best in the long term is still up for debate. After all, not every new United route works.

The airline calls Faro a new destination this year, but it originally announced that city in 2023 and then scrapped the launch of new flights just weeks before they were supposed to start. Plus, the airline recently added new flights to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands in 2022, but they weren’t as successful in the summer as originally planned, and now United will try operating them exclusively in the winter to see if there’s more demand.

That said, several of the recent new United routes are sure winners. Take, for instance, service to Cape Town and Johannesburg, which Quayle referenced more than once in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the announcement. Those routes were innovative when they launched in 2019 and 2021, respectively, and now consistently perform as some of the best in the international network.

Time will tell how United’s new destinations fare, but the airline is confident they’ll succeed.

“People look to United to tell them where to fly. … These are unique destinations that are undiscovered gems. United just became this one-stop shop for all unique content that you need, whether it’s business, whether it’s leisure, whether it’s honeymoon. No matter what it is, people are coming to United,” Quayle said. (Despite United’s network chief just starting his own professional Instagram account, Quayle still considers “routes” his real “content.”)

It’s interesting that four out of the five new flights from Newark will be operated by a narrow-body aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 does not feature lie-flat pods in the pointy end of the plane (just standard domestic recliners), so it’s pretty clear that these routes are geared toward leisure flyers.

Of all the new transatlantic routes, just one will be operated during the daytime in both directions: the service to Nuuk in Greenland. Flights will depart Newark at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at 6:45 p.m., all times local. The plane will remain overnight in Nuuk, leave the following morning at 8 a.m. and land back in Newark at 9:30 a.m.

While most of the focus is on the Atlantic, United has been busy in recent months growing its presence at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) into a de facto gateway hub within the larger region. The airline recently announced new flights from Tokyo to Cebu in the Philippines taking off later this month, and now it’s adding three more short-haul regional routes from the airport.

Big changes: US-China flights are a quarter of what they were pre-pandemic — here’s why

Its latest announcement includes new routes from Tokyo to Mongolia and Taiwan.

United says that its joint venture partnership with Japanese airline All Nippon Airways will help these routes take off. The new flights will also be supported by travelers looking for one-stop connections from the U.S.

“We are thinking about Tokyo differently than how it’s been thought of in the past. I think Tokyo is a real asset to us. … And when we went through the data, a lot of this traffic was connecting over Beijing, but is not doing so anymore. And so this is a way to connect it over Tokyo,” Quayle explained.

United adds 13 new routes

In addition to the new destinations, United is adding new routes to existing destinations for next summer. They include:

Route	Start date	Seasonality	Frequency	Aircraft
Tokyo to Koror, Palau	April 2, 2025	Year-round	Daily	Boeing 737-800
Washington, D.C. — specifically, Dulles International Airport (IAD) — to Nice, France	May 24, 2025	Seasonal	Four times weekly	Boeing 767-300
Washington, D.C. (Dulles) to Venice, Italy	May 22, 2025	Seasonal	Daily until Sept. 25, 2025, then four times weekly	Boeing 767-300

The two new routes from Dulles definitely fit the bill for a traditional European expansion. While Nice and Venice don’t draw as many tourists as London or Paris, plenty of Americans still look to fly to these cities each summer, and United’s new flights should have no trouble filling up.

After all, the airline already serves these cities from Newark, so it has a good pulse on demand. Plus, opening a new gateway will offer travelers more connecting opportunities from points across the U.S.

When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight

As for the Tokyo-to-Koror route, United says it’ll further grow its presence in Tokyo with these flights. The airline already flies to Koror from Guam and Manila in the Philippines.

United boosts short-haul international network

While much of the focus is on the new long-haul routes, United isn’t resting on its laurels. The airline also has some new short-haul international flights taking off next year.

To start, a new once-weekly service from Houston to Puerto Escondido, Mexico, will take off April 5, 2025. United will be the first and only airline to connect the two cities. The airline’s regional affiliate, Mesa Airlines, will operate the flight using an Embraer 175 aircraft.

Then, starting May 22, 2025, United will also add a new daily flight from San Francisco and San Jose, Costa Rica, on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Once it launches, the airline will offer service to San Jose from all seven of its mainland U.S. hubs, making the airline the largest U.S. carrier to Costa Rica.

While not included in this announcement, United will also launch flights from Newark to Dominica in the Caribbean on Feb. 15, 2025, as TPG previously reported.

United grows existing portfolio

Finally, the airline will also expand the operating season and upgauge certain aircraft on key European routes next year.

From Newark, the carrier will relaunch flights to Athens on March 6, 2025; to Venice on March 29, 2025, and to Dubrovnik, Croatia, on May 1. Dubrovnik flights will also move to daily service, while flights to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, will increase to four weekly services.

Additionally, on May 1, United will resume service from San Francisco to Barcelona and Chicago to Athens. Both flights will be operated by the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, providing more capacity than before on these routes.

Bottom line

When all is said and done, United will offer a whopping 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations, including 40 nonstop routes no other major U.S. airline serves.

This expansion reaffirms United’s position as the largest international airline in the U.S. From unlocking new adventures in Greenland to adding more service to Italy, United will have something for everyone next summer.

For the airline, moves like this help enhance its end-to-end value proposition.

“What we see is the more unique content, the better the credit card acquisitions. And the more unique content, the more we differentiate ourselves from our competitors,” Quayle explained.

While the airline has now formalized its summer plans, Quayle and the network team aren’t going into hibernation mode. In fact, there have long been rumors that the carrier will soon add flights to Bangkok and possibly even to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Those flights weren’t announced in Thursday’s update, but Quayle did drop a teaser during his remarks.

“We will potentially add some more West Coast flying later this year, so stay tuned for that,” he said.

Related reading:

• United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more
• Best United Airlines credit cards
• United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• How to survive basic economy on United Airlines

Skiing has long had a reputation as a sport for the wealthy. Since its introduction to North America in the early 20th century, it’s typically been reserved for those who can afford to take time off from work to spend exorbitant amounts of money traveling to far-flung destinations like Colorado, Idaho and New England.

Today, not much has changed except that the cost of skiing has grown exponentially. During the 2022-23 ski season, 47% of skiers had an income of $100,000 or more, according to Snowsports Industries America‘s annual participation study. Skiers and riders on a tighter budget have to find alternate options from the megaresorts, given they can expect to pay nearly $300 per person, per day at popular destinations like Vail, Colorado; Deer Valley, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, even if tickets are purchased online in advance. Factor in lodging, food, travel and gear rentals, and the cost starts to get out of reach.

Related: A new Grand Hyatt is opening in Park City just in time for ski season

Luckily, there are ways to cut down on costs. Most ski resorts are incentivizing skiers to purchase season passes or day tickets in advance by offering discounted pricing. Multimountain passes like the Epic and Ikon passes, which cost $1,025 until Oct. 9 and $1,359, respectively, offer unlimited access to their resorts. But even those offer rates that are cheaper the earlier you buy. The Epic Pass has several options like the Northeast Value Pass, which costs $626 until Oct. 9 and gets skiers unlimited and limited access to select Northeast ski resorts. And then there are passes like the Indy Pass, which offers two days each at over 200 resorts (although it’s currently on a waitlist-only purchase option for the 2024-25 ski season), and Mountain Collective, which gets passholders two days at each of its 25 resorts for $659.

But for those unwilling to commit to buying a multiday or multimountain pass, there are plenty of smaller ski and ride areas offering lift tickets that don’t require taking out a loan to pay for. And you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice snow quality, terrain or a cool vibe to save a few bucks.

Below, we round up a few resorts with the cheapest lift tickets in North America.

Burke Mountain, Vermont

Vermont is known to have some of the deepest and most reliable snow on the East Coast. And while Burke‘s 217 inches of annual snowfall isn’t the most in the country — or even the state — it’s more than what most New England resorts typically get.

Located in northern Vermont, two hours from Burlington, Vermont, and less than seven from New York City, Burke Mountain offers 53 named trails and glades on 270 acres of terrain and has a vertical drop of over 2,000 feet. Adult lift tickets are just $89 per day on weekends and $45 midweek.

Mount Abram, Maine

Mount Abram is a sleepy little hill just south of Bethel, Maine, and is popular among locals. You won’t find luxury resorts and all the bells and whistles of places like Park City, Utah, or Aspen, Colorado, but you won’t find the crowds or lift lines either. 

Like most New England resorts, Mount Abram isn’t the place to go for bottomless powder or steep chutes and open bowls, but with 42 trails and glades on 450 acres and a 1,150-foot vertical drop, there’s enough to keep most skiers and riders happy for a few days. There are plenty of short-term rentals around the resort and a handful of hotels and lodges in nearby Bethel, Maine, which is home to the much larger (and more expensive) Sunday River. Mount Abram is also just an hour from Portland, Maine, which is a worthy destination in itself. If the hour commute isn’t a deal-breaker, staying in the city — which has more breweries per capita than any other city and a mean lobster roll — is worth considering.

Lift tickets at Mount Abram are just $39 per day thanks to a partnership with LL Bean, but the mountain is closed Monday through Wednesday in winter. Indy Pass holders also get two days at the ski area.

Willamette Pass, Oregon

With just 555 acres of skiable terrain, Willamette Pass is a relatively small resort, but the 430 inches of annual snowfall, thanks, in part, to its high base area that sits 5,120 feet above sea level makes up for it.

The resort is just an hour from the small city of Eugene, Oregon, and has a vertical drop of 1,563 feet, 225 acres of groomed terrain and over 12 miles of Nordic trails. Like many smaller resorts, there’s plenty of easier terrain, perfect for beginners and families, but Willamette Pass is also home to RTS — one of the steepest inbound runs in the country. In fact, nearly half of the resort’s trails reach or exceed 35 degrees in spots, which is steeper than you might imagine, making it a great resort for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. There isn’t much in terms of lodging at the resort, but the nearby towns of Oak Ridge and Crescent, Oregon, have several options. Or, you can make the one-hour drive to Eugene, which has plenty of restaurants and places to stay.

Lift tickets at Willamette Pass start at $19, and it plans on operating daily during the 2024-25 ski season for the first time in 20 years. Kids 12 and under and adults 75 and over ski for free, but tickets must be “purchased” online for $0.

Howelsen Hill, Colorado

With just 50 skiable acres and less than a 440-foot vertical drop, Howelsen Hill isn’t the type of place worth flying across the country for, but its location in downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and free lift tickets on Sundays (with non-Sunday tickets costing just $47 during the 2023-24 ski season) makes it worth checking out if you happen to be in the area and want to save a few bucks on lift tickets for a day or two.

The city-owned hill, which opened in 1915, is also the longest continuously operating ski area in North America. It’s known for being an Olympic training ground thanks to its impressive ski jumping complex. 

Brian Head, Utah

Thanks, in part, to having the highest base area in Utah, Brian Head Resort receives over 360 inches of dry, fluffy snow each year, making it a great spot for skiers and riders looking to maximize their powder days and minimize their credit card balances. Located in southern Utah, just an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park (which is worth visiting in winter!) and three hours from Las Vegas, Brian Head offers 650 acres of skiable terrain and 71 named runs across two connected mountains.

Related: What it’s like skiing at one of the last ‘hidden gem’ affordable ski resorts: Brian Head

The mountain operates a lodge that is just a two-minute shuttle ride from the slopes. Lift ticket prices vary, but when purchasing online in advance, they can be as low as $52 on Saturdays and $24 midweek. Early and late in the season, lift tickets can be purchased for less than $20. Kids 12 and under ski for free with the Power Kids Pass, which is also valid at its 12 partner resorts, including Willamette Pass. Adults 75 and older ski for free, too.

Ski Cooper, Colorado

Founded in 1942 as a training ground for the 10th Mountain Division, Ski Cooper is one of the oldest and most affordable ski areas in Colorado. The resort gets an average of 260 inches of snow annually, which is plenty given that you won’t be competing with massive crowds for first tracks. And with a base elevation of 10,500 feet, you’re almost guaranteed soft and dry turns.

Ski Cooper’s 480 skiable acres deems it pretty small by Colorado standards, but it has a variety of beginner-friendly runs with a few challenging glades in the Tennessee Creek Basin zone. 

Amenities at Ski Cooper are minimal — there’s no on-site lodging — but it’s just 15 minutes from Leadville, Colorado, a mid-19th-century mining town with plenty of restaurants, shops, and hotels and inns. Check out Melanzana if you want to do some shopping for locally made outdoor apparel, but book an appointment in advance to get access to their full line.

Weekend day tickets at Ski Cooper cost $95 during the 2023-24 season (pricing isn’t available yet for this year, though it’s unlikely it’ll change by much), and adults 75 and older can get a season pass for just $10. It’s also bringing back $30 Thursdays, where skiers and riders can get $30 lift tickets, $30 ski rentals and $30 off lessons if purchasing two days in advance.

Bridger Bowl, Montana

With a 2,700-foot vertical drop, 2,000 skiable acres and 300 inches of snow annually, Bridger Bowl rivals North America’s biggest resorts. Montana’s much larger and more expensive Big Sky gets most of the attention, allowing Bridger to maintain its laid-back, “locals” feel. But that doesn’t mean the expert skier of the group will be stuck on meandering groomers all day — Bridger has some extremely challenging terrain, including a ridge with steep chutes, cliff bands and open snow fields that require extensive avalanche and backcountry knowledge and gear.

Bridger Bowl does have a few base lodges where you can grab a bite to eat, get your skis tuned or warm up with some hot chocolate, but most lodging options are in the nearby town of Bozeman, Montana, just 25 minutes away.

Day tickets at Bridger Bowl are $82 for adults when purchased online in advance.

Baldy Mountain, British Columbia

British Columbia is known for its rugged terrain and consistent, dry powder snow, and Baldy Mountain Resort is no exception. Baldy’s base area, which sits 5,665 feet above sea level, is the sixth highest in Canada, making it likely you’ll find high-quality snow coverage top-to-bottom. It also gets between 300 and 420 inches of snow each winter, turning its 600 acres of groomed and natural terrain into a skier and rider’s paradise.

Baldy has several lodges and rentals around the resort, including the ski-in, ski-out Tinhorn Lodge in the upper village. It also has partnerships with a few nearby accommodations, offering “ski and stay” packages that get you discounts on lodging when you show your lift ticket.

Adult day tickets cost $87 on weekends, but the resort is also on the Indy Pass, which gets you two days on the hill. It’s closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through ski season, so if you can hit it on Thursday after a storm, you’re in for a good time!

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Bahrain’s Gulf Air plans to upgrade some aspects of its inflight offerings next year as it eyes a return to the U.S. amid its 75th anniversary celebrations.

At the Routes World 2024 conference in Bahrain Oct. 6, Gulf Air CEO Jeffrey Goh said the airline’s soft product improvements will include new and upgraded food options, onboard amenities like free Wi-Fi and improved inflight entertainment content.

“New chinaware, new glassware, new cutlery, new soft finishings — all those will be coming onboard,” he said.

The airline does not plan to update its seats and other aspects of the physical product onboard its planes because, as Goh put it, the interiors are “quite modern and new.”

The average age of Gulf Air’s fleet of 32 Airbus A320-family narrow-bodies and eight Boeing 787 wide-bodies is less than seven years, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

A historic player among giants

Gulf Air, founded as Gulf Aviation in 1949, was the flag carrier for the Persian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates for decades before the rise of major carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways. It only became a solely Bahraini airline in 2007 when Oman sold its stake in the carrier.

Now, the historic airline is a small player among giants. Its fleet of 40 planes compares to well over 200 aircraft each at Emirates and Qatar Airways.

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As such, Goh — who only took the top job at Gulf Air in 2023 — is focused on expanding the airline’s connectivity to and from Bahrain rather than competing for connecting traffic with its much larger rivals.

“Your airline, a national carrier, will always be your flying billboard,” he said.

Even as a national carrier, Gulf Air has ambitious growth plans. The airline intends to increase the number of destinations it serves by a quarter — or from around 60 cities to around 75 — by the end of the decade, Goh said.

Those plans include new U.S. flights. When asked about the timing, Goh said Gulf Air is working to meet the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration requirements necessary before it can begin flights. He declined to comment on where Gulf Air could fly.

The carrier’s last U.S. flights to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from Bahrain and Abu Dhabi ended in 1997, according to Cirium Diio.

Gulf Air added seven new destinations to its map this year, including Geneva Airport (GVA), Munich Airport (MUC) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Cirium Diio schedule data shows.

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