Tag: Travel Planner

“And the sexiest new nonstop route of the year is … ”

No, that wasn’t an obscure part of the Oscars you missed last month.

Instead, that phrase was uttered ahead of an honor given out at the 2024 Cranky Network Awards — something you might liken to the Oscars of airline route planning.

The awards have been handed out annually since 2021 by Brett Snyder, author of the Cranky Flier aviation blog and analysis site after which the awards are named.

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This year’s event in Oakland drew not only airline executives and industry insiders but also media from outlets like The Wall Street Journal and CNBC.

That there’s so much interest in specific airline routes may surprise some, but stories about new flights are routinely some of our most popular stories here at TPG. That was also true during my two decades as the Today in the Sky columnist at USA Today; word of a new airline destination would often vie with trending national news to make the site’s list of most-read stories on any given day.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research, was among those attending the event in person. He’s not surprised that the event has found legs.

“An airline’s route network is fundamentally the product we buy when choosing an airline and booking a flight,” he said. “The analysis and decision-making involved in planning and choosing the routes an airline flies — and doesn’t fly — heavily determines whether the airline will make money.”

“I’m not surprised that there is an award show for airline routes. I’m just surprised none of the airline route conferences thought to do something like this first,” Harteveldt said, referencing the numerous conferences that take place worldwide on the subject — yes, there are dozens of such airline route conferences each year.

Snyder, who collaborates with Visual Approach founder Courtney Miller to put on the awards, said his initial goal was simply to shine a spotlight on what he thought was an underappreciated part of the industry.

“When we started the Cranky Network Awards during the pandemic, we just saw a group that was overworked, doing remarkable things to help keep their companies afloat,” Snyder said, reflecting on the scramble by airlines to adjust their schedules during the depths of the COVID-19 crisis. “We thought they deserved recognition for that, and not necessarily external recognition but more internally.”

As for staging an award ceremony, Snyder said in his typical deadpan style that “at the very least, (attendees would) be able to escape for a night away, have a good time and get a trophy to take back and be proud of. That is still our goal with the awards, regardless of what the outside world thinks about it.”

This all brings us back to the sexiest airline route award. There were actually two winners in that category, one going to the sexiest new “short-haul” route (think short) and another for the sexiest “long-haul” route (think a longer overseas route).

JetBlue earned the prize for the short-haul award (Los Angeles to Nassau, Bahamas), and Canadian carrier Air Transat won the long-haul award (Montreal to Marrakech).

Awards were given for a whole slew of categories — everything from the “Most Clever Flight Number” on a new route to a “Calculated Risk Award” for trying something new. A full list of the winners is below.

Snyder declined to single out an award that he felt was particularly impactful.

“There isn’t one that sticks out because they are all so different,” he said, though he acknowledged some may have broader appeal than others.

“Ones like the Sexiest New Route awards are about something announced that we like. The winners may work out or they may not, but it’s fun to celebrate those kinds of decisions,” he continued. “And then ones like the Route Victory and Network Victory are about actual performance [of a new route], so it’s a really different type of award.”

“If you’re talking about ‘most fun,’ it’s probably the Most Clever Flight Number,” he said. “But in general, we say the Most Improved Network is the biggest award, because it’s looking at the full body of work that the airlines have done in the last year, not what they inherited.”

In all, the Cranky Network Awards underscore just how interesting new airline routes can be — both to industry insiders and everyday flyers.

Asked to put it in perspective, Snyder noted that the awards help punctuate the in-depth route analysis that he and Miller have become known for at Cranky Flier.

“I think what it comes down to is that Courtney and I spend a lot of time analyzing what airlines do and commenting on it,” he said. “Sometimes it’s positive, and sometimes it’s not. To be able to get everyone in a room and do something that is completely positive (with plenty of good-natured ribbing to spread around) always seemed like a great idea. We wanted airlines to want to attend and be able to enjoy it. If they enjoy it, then we do, too.”

Scroll down for a full list of the winners at the 2023 Cranky Network Awards.

2024 Cranky Network Awards

Sexiest New Route — short-haul

Winner: Los Angeles to Nassau on JetBlue

Other nominees:

• Anchorage to San Diego on Alaska Airlines
• Atlanta to Curacao on Delta Air Lines
• New Haven, Connecticut, to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Avelo Airlines
• Ottawa, Canada, to Las Vegas on Flair Airlines

Sexiest New Route — long-haul

Winner: Montreal to Marrakech on Air Transat

Other nominees:

• Atlanta to Nice, France, on Delta
• Munich to Seattle on Lufthansa
• Newark to Faro, Portugal, on United
• Vancouver, Canada, to Dubai on Air Canada

Calculated Risk Award

Winner: American for its focus on its hubs in the southern U.S.

Other nominees:

• Allegiant for its return to Orlando International Airport (MCO) in addition to its existing base at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
• Delta for its Austin expansion
• Southwest for moving its Florida international gateway from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando
• United for investing heavily in long-haul growth

Most Clever Flight Number

Winner: Flair 1512 Calgary to Las Vegas. The flight number marks the exact difference in feet between the departure gate in Calgary and the arrival gate in Las Vegas.

Other nominees:

• Alaska 777: San Diego to Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• American 3846: College Station, Texas, to Miami
• JetBlue 72: Edinburgh to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Sun Country 1916: Missoula, Montana, to Minneapolis

Best Airport Partner

Winner: Paul Forde, Winnipeg Airports Authority — Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG). This award goes to airport “air service development” executives airlines say are especially helpful to work with in exploring opportunities for new routes.

Other nominees:

• Abe Weber, Appleton International Airport — Appleton International Airport (ATW in Wisconsin
• Janet Fischer, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation — Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) near Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• Joe Rotterdam, Pittsburgh International Airport — Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Julie Curtis, South Bend International Airport — South Bend International Airport (SBN) in Indiana

Best Aircraft-Enabled Opportunity

Winner: Anchorage to JFK on Alaska (with the Boeing 737 MAX 8). This award goes to an airline that used the capabilities of a specific aircraft to add a route that would have been difficult to fly profitably with another type of plane.

Other nominees:

• Calgary to Keflavik, Iceland, on WestJet (Boeing 737 MAX 8)
• Cincinnati to San Francisco on Breeze (Airbus A220)
• Montreal to Marrakech on Air Transat (Airbus A321neo)
• New York JFK to Amsterdam on JetBlue (Airbus A321LR)

Most Promising New Partnership

Winner: Alaska and Hawaiian (merger)

Other nominees:

• American and Dallas Fort Worth (new terminal development)
• JetBlue and both Allegiant and Frontier (asset divestitures)
• Porter and Air Transat (new joint venture)
• United, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn (multimodal)

Best New Destination

Winner: Tulum on Air Canada, American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit (postponed) and United

Other nominees:

• Christchurch, New Zealand, on United
• Nuuk, Greenland, on Air Greenland
• Salem, Oregon, on Avelo
• Tijuana, Mexico, on American

Most Improved Network

Winner: United for its Pacific expansion

Other nominees:

• JetBlue for its European growth
• Lynx for its U.S. expansion
• Porter for its growth markets fueled by new Embraer E2 jets
• Southwest for its additional frequency across the network

Network Victory Award

Winner: Delta for its success in the Boston hub

Route Victory Award

Winner: American for its success on Miami and Beef Island/Tortola in the U.S. Virgin Islands

All-Season All-Star

Winner: United for finding destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand to fly its wide-bodies in North American winter when demand in Europe is limited.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

If you’re a frequent traveler, you know that credit card foreign transaction fees can add up — and become one of the most annoying aspects of making purchases abroad.

Foreign transaction fees are incurred when your credit card issuer processes a transaction you’ve made in another country. They can cost up to 3% of your purchase amount.

Luckily, there’s a long list of credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees. In fact, Discover and Capital One don’t charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards.

Here’s our guide to finding a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card that works for you.

How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

Consider where you’re traveling

First things first: You want to make sure the credit card you’re looking at is accepted in the country (or countries) you’re planning to visit. All your advanced research will become moot if you reach your destination and discover that you can’t use your card.

For example, Visa cards are accepted worldwide, while issuers like Discover are often limited outside North America.

Determine your overall goals

You need to determine whether your main priority is to earn travel rewards, rack up cash back or pay off a card balance.

As mentioned, the list of cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees is long. You’ll want to narrow down your options by deciding what type of card makes sense for you; it might be a premium travel rewards card, a no-annual-fee cash-back card or something in between.

For example, a premium rewards card would make the most sense if you plan a lavish 10-day trip across a continent. Or, if you’re an infrequent traveler hopping to another country for a couple of days, look for a more cost-effective, no-foreign-transaction-fee card.

Compare welcome offers

Once you have a general idea of the type of card you want, you can narrow your choices by comparing different benefits, such as the current welcome offers on the cards you’re considering.

A generous welcome offer can greatly enhance a card’s value. Or, you may be willing to compromise on the welcome offer for a card with a lucrative travel rewards program. It’s all what you make it.

To help, TPG has a guide that tracks the welcome offer history on some of the most popular travel cards on the market. It can help you figure out the best time to apply for a specific card.

Bottom line

There are plenty of no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards on the market. By considering a few basic factors, you can find a card that will give you plenty of value, whether you’re traveling abroad or staying at home.

Related: Foreign transaction fees: Everything you need to know

If you’ve built up a stash of Alaska Airlines miles and have the beach on your mind, you may be in luck.

Alaska unveiled a new promotion for Mileage Plan award redemptions Wednesday, kicking off its new series of “Global Getaways” with a focus on some highly desirable beach destinations.

And right now, you can find highly discounted award redemptions to places like Tahiti, the Maldives and, closer to home, the Bahamas.

Want more aviation news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Alaska Airlines Global Getaways

The Seattle-based carrier’s new Global Getaways promotion offers savings of up to 50% off on redemptions to certain international destinations, both with Alaska and its partner airlines.

This is going to be a recurring promotion, of sorts: Alaska plans to “mix it up” four times annually, refreshing its getaway promotion with a new set of places that Mileage Plan members can visit at a steep mileage discount.

It’s launching its first-ever series of getaways with an alluring theme: “exotic, sunny beach escapes.”

How to book

To book Alaska Airlines’ Global Getaways, you’ll need to log in to your Mileage Plan account on Alaska’s website.

For this first round of deals, the focus is on Alaska partners, which coincides with some new Mileage Plan partner award charts taking effect in recent weeks.

Alaska partners include all carriers in the Oneworld alliance, like American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, British Airways and Finnair.

But Alaska has several of its own international partners, too, from Air Tahiti Nui to Starlux Airlines and Condor.

Deal basics

Where to book: Through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

When to book: Through April 30

Travel dates: Oct. 1 through Nov. 30

Blackout dates: None, but availability is pending award space

The current Global Getaways apply to the following destinations on certain eligible partner airlines (but booked through Alaska) between September and November:

Destination	One-way economy awards	One-way premium economy awards
Tahiti’s Faaa International Airport (PPT) in French Polynesia	20,000 miles (normal: 37,500 miles)	30,000 miles
Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NAN)	20,000 miles (normal: 37,500 miles)	—
Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the Bahamas	15,000 miles (normal: 17,500 miles)	—
Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Tanzania	30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)	40,000 miles
Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives	30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)	40,000 miles
Bali’s Ngurah Rai/Denpasar International Airport (DPS) in Indonesia	30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)	40,000 miles

 

Alaska plans to announce its next round of Global Getaways this summer, a spokesperson said.

Maximize your purchase

Be sure to use a card that earns additional points on airfare purchases to pay taxes and fees on your award ticket.

Some of the best cards include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on air travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 5 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3 points per dollar spent on travel
• American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases

Earning Mileage Plan miles

One of the best ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles is with the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card. Right now, new cardholders can earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account.

Or, with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card, you can get 50,000 bonus miles and the Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Notably, Bilt Rewards also just added Alaska as a transfer partner, allowing you to transfer points earned on purchases with the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), including your monthly rent, to Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

For rates and fees on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

Many cruise lines honor those who serve our country with various year-round discounts. Some cruise lines extend deals beyond active and retired military personnel, offering special rates to first responders, medical personnel and educators.

From onboard credits to a free cruise, here’s a line-by-line list of military discounts and other deals worth checking out.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

AmaWaterways

Active and retired U.S. service members can take advantage of a special military discount of $250 off an AmaWaterways river cruise using the code “MIL250” at the time of booking. You can also combine the discount with other promotions or offers.

Alternatively, active military members and veterans can utilize an exclusive two-for-one cruise fare promotion for select river cruises in 2024 to destinations like Vienna; Regensburg, Germany; and Paris. Mention the promo code “MIL2FOR1” at the time of booking.

Details: amawaterways.com

Carnival Cruise Line

Active and retired military members receive discounted cruise rates, onboard credits and reduced deposits on Carnival Cruise Line sailings. The line also hosts military appreciation gatherings for service members and their families. Additionally, you’ll find a Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge aboard several Carnival ships.

Details: carnival.com

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises offers active and retired U.S. and Canadian military members $25 off bookings of inside and ocean-view cabins and a $100 discount on veranda cabins and above on select sailings. This discount applies to the first and second guests in the same cabin.

The offer applies to select cruises of four nights or longer and excludes Galapagos sailings.

Details: celebritycruises.com

Disney Cruise Line

Active and retired U.S. military members and their spouses receive special rates on select Disney Cruise Line sailings. Prices start at $200 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. The offer is only valid for new bookings and is limited to one cabin per service member, per sailing.

Details: disneycruise.disney.go.com

Holland America

Active U.S. and Canadian military members and veterans receive a $100 onboard credit per cabin on every new booking of a Holland America cruise. The same discount is extended to educators in the U.S. You can apply the credit to products or services, such as shore excursions, beverages and spa treatments, while on board.

Details: Military discount; teacher discount

Margaritaville at Sea

In 2024, Margaritaville at Sea updated its popular Heroes Sail Free program, renaming it Heroes Sail Free and First.

The new program offers all active and veteran military, first responders, law enforcement officers, medical personnel and educators in the U.S. a free sailing with a paying guest as often as they like throughout the year. The offer applies to sailings aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander, the line’s newest ship, as well as Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

With the addition of the Heroes Sail First component, qualified passengers also receive an Express Pass, which includes priority embarkation and disembarkation at both home and destination ports, two complimentary welcome beverages, priority luggage delivery and expedited booking assistance for shore excursions for all sailing destinations.

The offer applies to windowless inside cabins only. Any additional cabin guest who does not qualify for the program must pay the standard cruise sailing rate. While the cruise is free, guests are required to pay all port taxes, fees and gratuities.

Details: margaritavilleatsea.com

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers discounted fares to all active and retired U.S. military personnel and family members traveling with them. You can receive a 5% discount on inside and ocean-view cabins, a 10% discount on balcony cabins and suites and a “kids sail free” promotion on select sailings.

Additionally, MSC will not penalize cancellations due to deployment. You will receive a 100% future cruise credit for two years from cancellation (with verification from the commanding officer).

Details: msccruisesusa.com

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Military Appreciation Program provides exclusive benefits to U.S. military members, veterans, the National Guard, reserves and their spouses. Members of the program receive a 10% discount on all cruise fares. It’s also combinable with the Free at Sea program, which includes free drinks, airfare for a second guest, Wi-Fi and other perks.

NCL also runs its Giving Joy contest each May during Teacher Appreciation Week. Winning educators within the U.S. receive a seven-night cruise for two.

Details: Military discount; Giving Joy contest

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises extends up to $250 in free onboard spending credit to U.S. and Canadian veterans and active, retired and disabled military personnel. You can apply the credit toward specialty dining, onboard shopping, shore excursions and spa treatments.

Throughout the year, the line also has special promotions for first responders, medical professionals and teachers (no specials were available at the time of publication). Those who qualify can verify their status through Princess’ website and sign up to receive notifications of promotions.

Details: Military discount; first responder and medical professional discount; teacher discount

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers military rates to active and retired personnel, veterans and their spouses in the U.S. and Canada. The line also extends discounts to police officers (local, state or federal) and firefighters. The discount applies to friends and family members staying in the same cabin as the eligible service member or first responder.

The special rates vary from sailing to sailing, and the best way to access the discount is by booking through a travel agent or directly with Royal Caribbean over the phone.

Details: royalcaribbean.com

Bottom line

Many of these discounts are minor but are still nice if you want to shave a few dollars off the cost of a cruise vacation. For the best deals in addition to military discounts, do your research, look for sales and compare prices across travel sellers. Enlisting a travel agent to help with vacation planning is another great way to unlock cruise perks and discounts. 

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
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

JetBlue Airways is back with its second rate hike for checked bag fees in just a matter of months.

This time, the New York-based carrier is quietly adding a new demand-based pricing model for checked bags.

JetBlue’s new peak and off-peak checked bag pricing structure is already live; it took effect March 22 with no notice provided by the carrier.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

This news was first reported by NerdWallet and later confirmed by TPG with a carrier spokesperson.

In addition to charging different prices based on when you purchase your checked bag — bags added before the check-in window are up to $10 cheaper — the carrier will now charge more for bags when traveling during a so-called “peak” period.

You’ll find the full table of JetBlue’s updated checked bag fees below, but the carrier will now charge as much as $70 for a checked bag — an industry-leading price that resembles something you’d likely find on an ultra-low-cost carrier.

During peak travel times, JetBlue will charge an additional $5 for the first checked bag and an additional $10 for a second checked bag for all flights within the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. Note that the first price in the table below represents the cost of a checked bag purchased more than 24 hours before departure.

Fare	Off-peak	Peak
Blue, Blue Basic, Blue Extra	First bag: $35/$45	First bag: $40/$50
	Second bag: $50/$60	Second bag: $60/$70
Blue Plus	First bag: Included	First bag: Included
	Second bag: $50/$60	Second bag: $60/70

JetBlue explained the rate hike to TPG with the following statement.

The cost of transporting bags has gone up significantly due to increased wages and higher fuel costs, and we remain unprofitable since COVID. While we don’t like increasing fees, we are making these adjustments to help get our company back to profitability and cover the increased costs. By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, especially during periods of highest demand for limited space in the cargo hold, we can keep base fares as low as possible and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone.

For transatlantic flights during peak travel times, a first bag remains included for all fares except Blue Basic. JetBlue is increasing the first checked bag for Blue Basic customers by $5 and increasing the second checked bag by $10 for all customers.

As for what’s considered a peak time period, JetBlue explains on its updated website that “peak-season pricing applies to checked bags during high-traffic periods, including Presidents’ Week, Thanksgiving and Winter holidays, and peak spring and summer travel seasons.”

Translating that description to numbers shows that JetBlue’s peak pricing applies to nearly half of the year. Over the course of the next 365 days, JetBlue is charging higher bag fees on 158 days.

The longest stretch of peak pricing applies from June 2 to Sept. 3, which covers essentially the entire summer season. Even if you’re traveling on a quiet Tuesday or Wednesday in the summer, expect to pay more for a checked bag.

The full list of peak travel dates includes April 11-April 29, June 20-Sept. 3, Nov. 21-Dec. 2, Dec. 19-Jan. 6, Feb. 13-Feb. 24, and March 3-March 28.

JetBlue’s Mosaic elite customers, as well as those traveling in Mint business class, will still enjoy two free checked bags during travel. Those with the JetBlue Plus Card will also continue to receive their first checked bag for free.

Whether other airlines match JetBlue’s updated pricing structure is anyone’s guess, but as we’ve been reminded over the past few weeks, the airline industry largely ascribes to the “monkey see, monkey do” mantra.

Earlier this year, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue quietly updated their checked bag fees. A few days later, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines quickly matched the increased pricing.

Many of the carriers explained that these updates were being made to adjust to inflationary pressures.

In February, when JetBlue raised checked bag fees for the first time this year, the carrier shared a nearly identical statement to the one that it gave TPG on Monday.

In recent weeks, JetBlue has been working hard to return to profitability now that the Spirit Airlines merger is dead. The carrier has introduced new seat fees, raised checked bag fees (twice) and realigned its network to return to profitability.

Below you’ll find a table comparing the updated checked bag fees for domestic flights on the major U.S. carriers. Note that when two prices are presented, the lower one is charged for buying the bag before the check-in window opens.

Airline	First bag	Second bag
Alaska Airlines	$35	$45
American Airlines	$35 or $40	$45
Delta Air Lines	$35	$45
Frontier Airlines	Varies	Varies
JetBlue	Up to $50	Up to $70
Southwest Airlines	Free	Free
Spirit Airlines	Varies	Varies
United Airlines	$35 or $40	$45 or $50

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

March has come and gone, and personally, I’m not sad to see it go. If you’re a fan of winter (and perhaps a snowy winter vacation), you might be on the other side of the table, but I long all winter for the flowers of spring and the heat of summer.

But March wasn’t all bad: I got to spend a beautiful night with my pup and fiance at the glitzy Baccarat Hotel New York on a staycation, while my colleagues were stretched across every corner of the planet, from Singapore to Montana, researching and writing to help you plan your next big trip.

In March, there was plenty of hotel news we reported on. There’s the official end date of Hyatt’s much-loved partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (which is heading over to Hilton), the exciting announcement that Accor’s Orient Express train is finally opening up for bookings, the end of Choice Hotels’ hostile bid to take over Wyndham and Hilton’s acquisition of the trendy, college town-themed Graduate Hotels.

But also throughout March, smaller announcements were made we think you, our smart and savvy TPG audience, should know about.

Here is all the hotel news you missed in March.

The W New Orleans — French Quarter got a fresh coat of paint

There’s nowhere like New Orleans, a vibrant city with an equally vibrant hotel scene offering the perfect accommodation for any type of traveler. Now, the W New Orleans — French Quarter is raising the stakes by unveiling a multimillion-dollar renovation across its 97 rooms and carriage houses. The new design, crafted by Canadian firm Chapi Chapo Design, includes touches of nature, like Spanish moss-inspired sconces, and tributes to New Orleans, like pops of Sazerac orange and minibars inspired by treasure chests in a playful note to the French pirate Jean Lafitte.

Rates at W New Orleans — French Quarter are as low as $156 (if you book fast!) or 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. Just a note: Rates in New Orleans can fluctuate dramatically between seasons and even over a single week, so use the flexible booking calendar to help save.

We have our first look at the upcoming Andaz Miami Beach

If you, like me, were bummed to hear that The Confidante Miami Beach was officially closed as of March 25, our first look at its transformation into an Andaz might cheer you up a bit. This new Andaz features a stylish toned-down interior with chic white and natural tones and plenty of lush plants, two totally reimagined pools (but we have to admit the striped cabanas at The Confidante were iconic) and all-new food and beverage outlets by the famed José Andrés Group. Though we’ll have to wait until late 2024 to see it in real life, Hyatt loyalists should be excited about the hotel’s reinvention, where World of Hyatt members can still earn or burn points in the South Florida sunshine.

Related: The best resorts in Florida for a relaxing vacation in the Sunshine State

Graduate Hotels is taking reservations in Auburn and Princeton

I’ve long been a fan of Graduate Hotels’ quirky, often over-the-top collegiate and locally inspired design (just check out my review of the Graduate Nashville and its Dolly Parton-themed rooms) — and I like it even more now that it’ll soon be part of the Hilton Honors family. And two exciting new properties are accepting reservations: Auburn, Alabama, with stays starting in September, and Princeton, New Jersey, a property that made our list of the most exciting hotels opening in 2024, set to open in June.

At the Auburn location, expect high design (from the team behind Soho House) featuring orange and navy blue furniture in honor of the school’s colors, as well as a wooden statue of Auburn alumnus and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson. And in Princeton, be on the lookout for lamps inspired by Revolutionary War-era cannons and the university’s signature senior jackets in a building that was formerly a dorm.

Rates in Auburn start around $183 per night, while Princeton starts around $359 per night. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about Graduate’s integration into Hilton Honors.

We got an inside look at The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, set to open later this year

Developed by Five Star Development, The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie is the crown jewel within the $2 billion community of The Palmeraie that spans more than 120 acres in the most affluent and coveted area in Arizona and includes a mixed-use retail and restaurant district.

The resort itself is spread over approximately 18 acres and comprises 215 guest rooms, including 137 casita suites connected by shaded walkways and lush courtyard gardens. Additionally, there are 80 privately owned villas and 32 estate homes that are Ritz-Carlton branded, serviced and managed, plus a spa and a nearly 400-foot pool, one of the longest resort pools in North America.

But the latest news is the resort’s signature dining experience, Mott 32, making it the first location of the popular Chinese restaurant brand in Arizona, which is slated to open alongside the resort later this year.

Aman’s new sister brand is finally open in Tokyo

Luxury knows no bounds at Aman, a collection of chic resorts around the world and even right here in the U.S., with outposts in New York City, Wyoming and Utah. But now Janu, Aman’s exciting new darling of a sister brand, welcomes guests to its 122 minimalist rooms in Tokyo.

Found in Azabudai Hills, essentially a new neighborhood full of surprises, Janu, according to a statement from Aman, “radiates an uplifting spirit and playful design narrative, in contrast to the serene tranquility and calming zen for which Aman is renowned.” The hotel features a spa and wellness center that measures more than a whopping 40,000 square feet, eight different bars and restaurants, and, for guests staying there, the social collateral that comes with being one of the first into one of the most exciting hotel projects in years.

Rates at Janu Tokyo start at around $944 per night.

In other news:

• Four Seasons’ exclusive new yachts will take you to ritzy ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean come 2026
• Raffles and Fairmont CEO on growing hotels with soul in the Americas and beyond
• Dreaming of the Seychelles? Hilton has 2 new resorts you can book from 86K points
• 5 things to know right now about Marriott, Hilton and all the world’s largest hotel companies
• World of Hyatt promotion: Earn double Hyatt night credits at Thompson and Dream hotels

Hotel reviews to inspire you:

• Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo review: Hillside sanctuary with plenty of activities
• Good food, new rooms and incredible ocean views: A review of the Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort
• Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto: Comfort and culture meet in Japan’s former capital
• Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts: Luxury along the cliffs
• Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa: Dated digs and underwhelming service in a great location

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Editor’s note: Marriott provided a complimentary two-night stay so TPG could get an inside look at the resort and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by Marriott or any external entity.

The Caribbean has no shortage of beautiful, sunny island destinations to escape the winter blues. The dual islands of Antigua & Barbuda were at the top of my list after hearing Antigua’s claim of boasting 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, and being the location of a previous season of Bravo’s ‘Below Deck.’

Following a cheap and cheerful stay at the Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino in the Dominican Republic a few years ago, I was keen to try the brand on one of the most picturesque islands imaginable. What better way to de-stress and make the most of a tropical paradise than by not having to lift a finger?

Here’s my review of the Royalton Antigua, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — and what you should know before booking a stay there.

Related: The best Marriott all-inclusive resorts for a perfect vacation

What is Royalton Antigua?

With 294 all-suite rooms, the Royalton Antigua is a spacious all-inclusive resort on the Caribbean island of Antigua, near Five Islands Village, set on the picturesque Deep Bay. The property is located six miles from the island’s international airport, V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU), about a 20 minute drive, depending on traffic.

Since opening in 2019, guests can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points here as part of the Autograph Collection.

Related: Luxury living in London with Marriott’s first Autograph Collection Residences

The property has an unusual layout on a long, thin block of land due to limited space in front of high elevation, meaning each building and amenity is in roughly a straight line, rather than being built around a central pool or social space.

The benefit of this is that as you cannot see the whole property from any vantage point, everyone is spread out, there are no bottlenecks and it doesn’t feel very big and never felt crowded despite the staff advising me of a 97% occupancy rate during my stay.

How to book Royalton Antigua

Antigua is not a budget destination (you’ll want to consider Mexico or the Dominican Republic if you want to save money in this region), and accommodation prices reflect that. Staying in an all-inclusive property is a great way to ensure you know upfront how much your vacation will cost, as food and drink prices can quickly add up outside of the property.

All-inclusive rates with accommodation, all meals, activities and most drinks (except specialty wine and Champagne) for two guests sharing a base-level mountain view suite start from $373 per night in the low season (where heavy rain is not uncommon), through to $742 per night during the peak seasons, like many dates from December to April. The property is open year-round.

Diamond Club VIP access can be added for around $150 per room per night, depending on the date.

Related: A review of the all-inclusive Royalton Blue Waters in Jamaica

Bonvoy members can redeem 70,000 points per night on off-peak dates and up to 115,000 points per night on peak dates, based on double occupancy.

Here are the best cards for booking Marriott Bonvoy properties, as well as redeeming your points for free nights:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. Offer ends May 1. Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends May 1. Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three free night awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. Annual fee: $95
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free night awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for each bonus free night award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. Annual fee: $125 (see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Annual fee: $0
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. Annual fee: $250

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful 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.

Rooms are modern, practical and stylish

I was assigned a spacious 452 square foot lagoon view suite on the top floor for my two-night stay, and it had everything I needed, including a comfortable king-size bed, desk with chair, small sofa and large flat-screen television. Slippers and fluffy bathrobes in the closet added a luxurious touch.

There were plenty of outlets to charge devices and everything just worked.

The bathroom featured a double vanity, rain head shower with excellent water pressure and temperature, and was stocked with Royalton-branded toiletries.

A small balcony offered spectacular views, particularly during sunrise and sunset.

The design style was neutral and wasn’t likely to win any cutting-edge design awards, but it provided a few pleasant pops of colors and nods to the local environment. Being an all-inclusive property, the minibar included local beer, soft drinks, water, chips, chocolate and a Diamond Club welcome gift of a bottle of sparkling wine and fresh fruit.

Related: 7 hotels with awesome (and free) minibars

Diamond Club comes packed with benefits

Diamond Club members receive plenty of additional benefits, the most notable being:

• Preferential room locations 
• Personalized butler service available via instant messaging and beach butler services from sunrise to sunset
• Priority reservations at specialty restaurants
• Personalized check-in and checkout at the Diamond Club Lounge, stocked with snacks, appetizers, and sweet treats
• A curated selection of top-tier spirits
• The option to have breakfast overlooking the water at Grazie Trattoria
• Nightly turndown service
• One hour of therapeutic hydrotherapy access 

Rather than check in at the main reception area, I was taken immediately by golf buggy to the Diamond Club Lounge, which is much closer to the guestrooms for check-in. This space has additional snacks available all day for Diamond Club guests and more premium spirits than at the regular bars, including Don Julio tequila, Grey Goose vodka, Hendricks gin and Hennessy cognac.

The butler service during my stay was terrific, with a morning and evening butler checking in with me via WhatsApp several times per day to see if there was anything they could do to assist, and the beach butler service meant I never needed to lift a finger as I worked on my tan.

With the specialty restaurants requiring reservations (and preference given to Diamond Club guests), having the Diamond Club butlers arrange reservations for each meal was a great perk.

You don’t need to travel to the Maldives for an overwater bungalow

Royalton’s best accommodations are the six Chairman’s Overwater Bungalows, a unique feature in the Caribbean and the first of its kind in Antigua.

A staggering 1,442 square feet each, these bungalows don’t come cheap, starting from $2,600 per night in low season.

They were booked solid during my peak time stay, but I got to have a quick peek inside one between a checkout and check-in and was wowed by what I saw.

The spacious bedroom led to a huge bathroom with a hot tub featuring dreamy ocean views.

Underneath the living room coffee table was a glass floor to spot any local sea creatures coming to say hello.

My favorite part of the overwater bungalows was the private deck with a plunge pool, sun loungers and a hammock to take in the Caribbean sunshine.

If you fancy the bucket list experience of a luxury overwater bungalow but don’t want to travel to the Maldives or Bora Bora, you can experience this on the island of Antigua.

Related: Which is better: The Maldives or Bora Bora?

Plenty of dining options with varying food

The Royalton Antigua has a range of dining options from a sunrise coffee to late night snacks and cocktails. Here is what I was able to try out during my two-night stay:

Gourmet Marche buffet

The hotel’s main buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and does not require reservations. There were plenty of seating options, and sitting outside was especially lovely to enjoy the warm, tropical air.

I sampled the food here for breakfast, and there were many options with plenty of American favorites like bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes, donuts, bagels and egg stations where the friendly chefs cooked omelets to order. Everything was tasty, though not particularly high-end — given the tropical location, I hoped to see more exotic fruit options than just watermelon, pineapple and oranges.

Hunter steak house

Royalton Antigua featured the same steak house as the Royalton I visited in the Dominican Republic, right down to the same decor and menu. Reservations are required — it was easy to score a booking through my Diamond Club concierge, and those without Diamond Club could secure a table after just a short wait.

While I enjoyed my mixed grill in the Punta Cana location, my rib eye steak in Antigua looked excellent and was served with a smile but was unfortunately very overcooked and tough despite ordering it medium rare.

Grazie Trattoria

Another familiar sight from my Punta Cana stay was the Italian restaurant Grazie Trattoria. I wasn’t wowed by dinner there previously, so decided to take advantage of the Diamond Club perk of eating breakfast in this beautiful setting overlooking the water and the bungalows.

It was a lovely start to the day with excellent staff on hand offering espresso coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and eggs how you like them.

I recommend breakfast here over the main buffet if you have Diamond Club access.

Caribbean restaurant and grill

Hidden away behind Grazie is a Carribean restaurant I didn’t even realize was there until my butler pointed it out. This was the best meal of my stay, with a delicious acapulco-style ceviche followed by a hearty local curried lamb stew, though the coconut shrimp appetizer was a miss, tasting like the shrimp had been cooked from frozen.

Score Brewhouse

I was excited to see a beer hall advertised as one of the hospitality venues offering a range of craft beers. First impressions were good, with half a dozen beer taps installed on the bar, and plenty of beer-themed artwork promoting different varieties of beer from across the world.

Seeking to quench my thirst in the tropical heat, I excitedly asked what beers the bartender had to offer. Imagine my surprise when he sheepishly informed me only one beer, Carib, was available, this being the same beer available at the pool bar, in the restaurants and stocked in the minibar.

While Carib was an acceptable lager, and I recognize craft beers can be difficult to source on a tropical island (though I did find a genuine craft brewery on the island), this seemed like a huge missed opportunity for a premium all-inclusive resort to only stock one type of beer in its purpose-built brewhouse.

The pool and beach celebrate the best of antigua

The resort is located on Deep Bay, and while Antigua boasts 365 beaches (one for every day of the year), Deep Bay was among the best I saw on the island. The picture-perfect, white-crystal sand and warm, turquoise-blue waters were heavenly and surely why people travel to this region.

All beaches in Antigua are public, and a few times a day, a boat tour would pull into the bay to show some cruise ship daytrippers just how beautiful it was.

You know your resort is on an outstanding beach when its a tourist attraction for someone with only a few hours to see the island.

The pool setup at the back of the beach was substantial, with plenty of sun loungers available despite the high occupancy during my peak-time stay.

I appreciated the range of seating options, from right on the sand to next to the pool to the private cabanas that could be rented for an additional cost.

The swim-up bar mixed cocktails until sunset for the thirsty crowd, with Diamond Club guests offered sunlounger food and drink service. Don’t expect bespoke, artisan cocktails, but the frozen strawberry daiquiri hit the spot on a hot day.

The vibe got quite merry late afternoon, but I would not describe this as a party resort. While families are welcome here (and there is even a kids club), I would say 90% of the guests were in the 30-60-year age bracket.

Nightly entertainment is surprisingly good

I’ve witnessed plenty of nighttime entertainment at all-inclusive resorts, from low-budget celebrity impersonators to an impressive acrobatic show in the lobby at Zoetry Punta Cana.

On the first night of my stay was a “Carnival show” at 9 p.m. with a local dance troupe brought in for the occasion. This was a well-produced and fun celebration of Antiguan music, traditional dress and culture, complete with some obligatory audience participation.

While I didn’t don a headdress, it created a great atmosphere and was a fun way to learn more about the island’s history in an entertaining format.

Related: This is how you do a luxury all-inclusive: Zoetry Mallorca, bookable with Hyatt points

Service went above and beyond

This was the eighth Caribbean island I have visited and the best service I have experienced in the region. Everyone I interacted with had a broad smile and a welcoming demeanor and excelled at hospitality. There were plenty of gentle jokes about how my two-night stay at the property was far too short to enjoy the best of the Caribbean.

I appreciated how personalized the Diamond Club experience was, with my butler often coming to find me in the public areas like the pool and beach to check how I was doing, have a polite chat and see if there was anything they could do to improve my stay.

Though the food was not faultless, the service at each meal was. I also noted how proactive the staff would be — I never had to ask for anything, which was not my experience at other Caribbean destinations.

Accessibility

Royalton Antigua’s long, thin layout means you’ll get plenty of steps in moving from one end of the property to the other. For those with mobility issues, wide, flat paths linking every building and facility were never crowded and provided picturesque views across the beach and lagoon.

Elevators can transport guests between floors of guestrooms though with only two elevators for 300 rooms, there were some delays.

As always, we recommend calling to confirm accessible room types and accessibility features of any hotel or resort before booking and before arrival.

Checking out

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Royalton Antigua and found it a significantly more luxurious experience than the Royalton Punta Cana. The beautiful property and the unique layout cleverly made a 300-room, at-capacity resort never feel busy.

Deep Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on one of the most beautiful islands I’ve visited. Royalton should be commended for securing this location, which was undoubtedly a tricky design and built due to the shape of the available land.

The terrific staff seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs, balancing warmth with initiative, and I instantly felt at home. While Diamond Club is an upcharge to what can already be a pricey destination, especially in peak season, the perks are undeniable, and having a Whatsapp service day and night to organize anything for you was really valuable.

Food could be improved with more investment in quality produce and chef training — it was the only real grumble I heard from other guests, but I would recommend Royalton Antigua as one of the better all-inclusive resorts I have stayed in.

Related reading:

• The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy
• The best Marriott credit cards
• What is Marriott Bonvoy elite status worth?
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
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Take a look around an airport, airplane or hotel, and odds are that you’ll see at least a few Apple devices nearby.

From iPhones to iPads to AirTags, the tech giant has developed a portfolio of products that have proven popular with scores of travelers. Perhaps it’s their portable and durable design or the ease with which the devices interact with one another, but the company has worked hard to try to convince road warriors to splurge for its tech.

Apple may already have won the majority of the smartphone, smartwatch and tablet markets. However, Apple’s MacBook laptops haven’t risen to the top of the laptop space — especially among corporate travelers who rely primarily on Windows machines.

But Apple is still working to make a play in that space. Earlier this month, the company unveiled a new MacBook Air that packs a slew of upgrades, all designed to woo users — especially travelers — to upgrade to this laptop.

How is Apple going to do that? TPG secured an exclusive interview with Evan Buyze on Apple’s Mac product marketing team to find out. Buyze walked us through how the company has specifically designed this computer for travelers.

Thin, light and durable design

It starts with the thin, light design that comes in both a 13.6- and 15.3-inch version.

The smaller computer weighs just 2.7 pounds and is only 0.44 inches thick, making it the ideal choice for the traveler who wants to maximize portability, Buyze said. It’s also the more affordable of the two options, starting at $1,099.

Business travelers — as well as those looking for a little more screen real estate for multitasking — will likely prefer the larger 15-inch model. It’s only about a half-pound heavier than the 13-inch version, and it starts at $1,299.

Aside from the size differences, the design of the 13- and 15-inch models is practically identical. The latter just has a more robust speaker system.

Both laptops are no thicker than about a 100-page book; Buzye said Apple worked hard so that the width didn’t come at the expense of durability. The new MacBook Air is built with an all-aluminum unibody enclosure that’s “designed to be super durable.”

Whether it’s unexpected turbulence or an unwieldy galley cart coming down the aisle, Buyze explained that Apple puts the MacBook Air through its special “reliability testing lab.”

“[It] simulates a lot of different customer experiences,” he said. “[In the lab,] they do a lot of different things to be able to make sure that whatever situation you are in, whether it’s in your backpack or you’re carrying it, it meets our standards for reliability.”

During Buyze’s four-year tenure working on the MacBook Air, he’s heard from travelers who have used the computer on airplane tray tables, in Ubers, in hotel rooms and in coffee shops. He and the team have weighed all these instances as use cases when considering durability requirements.

Buyze wouldn’t share more details about whether Apple has mock airplane seats or tray tables in its testing labs; he only said that the company uses “rigorous testing methods” to ensure the computer works in all travel scenarios.

All-day battery life

Despite the increased power demands from an upgraded processor (more on that below), Apple was able to maintain 18 hours of battery life for both models of the MacBook Air.

Of course, when traveling, you often don’t know where you’ll find your next (operational) power outlet. So, the all-day battery should provide plenty of juice even if you’re on a flight without a power outlet.

While I haven’t tested the battery life on the new MacBook Air, I recently took the previous model — which I use as my personal everyday computer — on the world’s longest flight from New York to Singapore. I started the flight at 100% and played a looping movie on the laptop to see when it would die. After nearly 18 hours in the air, I landed and saw the battery level was at 17% — about as good as it gets for a laptop.

Plus, even if you don’t plan to use the full 18-hour battery, the computer also doubles “as a great charger for your iPhone or your iPad,” according to Buyze. With two USB-C ports, you can power two devices simultaneously and still have juice left for the laptop itself; this could be useful when you’re not near a power outlet.

New processor delivers more power

Perhaps the biggest upgrade with the new computer is the introduction of Apple’s proprietary M3 processor chip. While the technical details — an 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine — might be dizzying, Buyze turned them into easy-to-understand comparisons.

“If you’re coming from an M1 MacBook Air, it’s up to 60% faster with MacBook Air with M3. If you’re upgrading from an Intel-based MacBook Air, it’s up to 13 times faster,” he said.

One particular aspect of the new processor that might appeal to travelers is the introduction of more efficient video streaming for services like Netflix. This will allow you to stream for longer, according to Buyze.

While the new chips might pack a mighty punch, they also were the “secret sauce” to making the computer so portable.

“How do we get that thin-and-light design that fits on the tray table?” Buzye asked. He answered by explaining that the “transition to Apple silicon [processor chips] … was really the game changer where we could actually make these new designs that we had only imagined making before.”

Connectivity upgrades

Another big travel-focused improvement Apple is touting with the new MacBook Air is the introduction of upgraded connectivity.

The laptops now support Wi-Fi 6E, which “has twice-as-fast speeds” with “increased wireless spectrum,” according to Buyze. This means that when you’re on a train or in an airport or hotel with a congested network, the new antennas can still connect to the internet without any hiccups.

To take full advantage of Wi-Fi 6E, airlines and hotels must also upgrade their internet routers. Some have already begun this process, and other new planes and hotels come with this pre-installed. 

The MacBook Air also supports Apple’s MagSafe charging port, which magnetically attaches the charging cable to the computer and automatically disconnects when someone trips over it or pulls it out.

This is “perfect for travel when you don’t know the environment, and it just gives you that peace of mind for all different scenarios,” he said.

Finally, to minimize space, many of the most portable laptops on the market compromise on the size and durability of the keyboard. The MacBook Air maintains a full-size keyboard “designed to be really comfortable with a quiet and enjoyable typing experience,” according to Buyze.

Bottom line

A new model of Apple’s best-selling laptop, the MacBook Air, is now in stores.

It comes with a handful of upgrades, many of which were designed specifically for travelers, according to Apple. This includes things like a new processor and improved connectivity, all while maintaining an all-flight battery life in a thin, light and durable design.

The new model builds on the strong foundation set by the previous versions of the MacBook Air. With its travel-friendly features and lack of price increases, it’s safe to say that the MacBook Air is a strong candidate for one of the best travel laptops money can buy.

Why would you fly to Oakland, California, if you’re going to San Francisco?

That might seem counterintuitive to a lot of travelers. But those who are more familiar with the area know that Oakland International Airport (OAK), which sits squarely on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is less than a half-hour drive from downtown San Francisco — not to mention just a few minutes from the city of Oakland.

Want more aviation news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

While it may be dwarfed by San Francisco International Airport (SFO) just across the bay, OAK officials think that part of the reason for that is that inbound travelers simply don’t realize where the airport is or that it presents a potentially more attractive option for people flying to the Bay Area.

That’s why Oakland airport officials said Friday that they are considering changing the airport’s name to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” to better reflect the airport’s location as part of an effort to attract more passengers and to prompt airlines to add more routes.

“Market research and interviews with airline partners have shown that routes have not performed as well as they should have due to the lack of geographic awareness, making air carriers reluctant to sustain and add new routes in Oakland,” Port of Oakland interim aviation director Craig Simon said in a statement.

Between July 2008 and March 2024, the airport added 54 new routes, Simon added. Of those, 39 were discontinued, along with six older established routes.

Airlines offer 46 destinations from OAK as of this June, according to data from aviation data firm Cirium. The airport’s largest airline is Southwest Airlines by a significant margin, followed by Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines. It also has regular service from Hawaiian Airlines, Mexican carrier Volaris, Allegiant Air and Delta Air Lines.

Bay Area breaks: The best hotels in San Francisco for a golden getaway

Still, Oakland officials said, there’s room for that route map and carrier list to expand, citing geographic awareness as a major hindrance. Market research carried out by the airport authority has found that local travelers are eager for more domestic and international destinations from the airport, while inbound travelers confirmed that they did not realize how close the airport was to San Francisco.

As of this June, SFO will have commercial service to 128 domestic and international airports on more than four dozen airlines, according to Cirium.

While the rebranding would tweak the airport’s name to add “San Francisco Bay,” the airport’s OAK code and branding would not change, officials said.

“Oakland helped put us on the map in California and we’re wholeheartedly supportive of this rebranding that acknowledges OAK’s economic position and influence in the San Francisco Bay area while staying true to its Oakland roots,” Southwest’s senior vice president of marketing Jennifer Bridie said in a statement.

Oakland, meanwhile, is far from the first airport to try and grow its relevance by associating more closely with a broader metropolitan region.

In 2006, the commercial airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, changed its name to “Manchester-Boston Regional Airport” in an effort to improve its visibility and highlight its location about 55 miles from central Boston. Airline passenger traffic at the airport — code MHT — has ebbed and flowed since but has been on a general upward trend since the COVID-19 pandemic.

MHT is currently serviced by American Airlines, Breeze Airways, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Avelo Airlines. Spirit Airlines also operates at the airport, though it plans to suspend its only service in May — the airline said it plans to resume seasonal service next winter.

Other airports have tried name changes for similar reasons.

Florida’s Melbourne International Airport (MLB) was among them. The airport, which sits on Florida’s central Atlantic coast, changed its name in 2015 to “Orlando Melbourne International Airport” to capitalize on the stronger name recognition with the city 70 miles inland that’s home to Walt Disney World and other popular theme parks. Officials at Orlando International Airport (MCO), however, did not like the name change, and — after years of back and forth — MLB eventually agreed to change the order of the cities in its title to go by its current name of Melbourne Orlando International Airport.

Other U.S. airports adopting the name of distant, more recognizable city names include Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) — about 85 miles from Chicago’s Loop — and New York Stewart International Airport (SWF), located about 70 miles from midtown Manhattan near the city of Newburgh, New York.

Related reading:

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• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
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• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
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You can now take a sleeper train directly from Belgium right through to the Czech Republic with European Sleeper’s latest route expansion.

We’ve written at length here at TPG about the great train revival, particularly the game-changing routes of European Sleeper, which is opening up rail connectivity across the continent. 

The rail operator first launched its Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin night train service in May 2023, and as of Monday extended its service from Berlin to Dresden and Bad Schandau in Germany before traveling to the Czech Republic capital of Prague. 

Related: 28 best European routes where you should take a train instead of a plane

The additional stops mean that you can now board the European Sleeper in Belgium and wake up the following morning in the Czech Republic. The full length of the service will connect four European capitals: Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. 

The newly extended route will initially run three times weekly, departing at 7:22 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and arriving in Prague the following day at 10:56 a.m.

Several major rail operators — including Eurostar and Nightjet — now offer long-distance connectivity throughout Europe. However, European Sleeper stands out as one of the fastest growing, and many more routes could be added in the coming years, including connections between Amsterdam, Brussels and Barcelona slated for 2025 and 2026. 

Related: Eurostar review: What’s the difference between Business Premier, Standard Premier and Standard class?

“We are truly thrilled to be launching the new route to Prague less than a year after launching our first direct service from Brussels to Berlin,” Elmer van Buuren, co-founder of European Sleeper, said in a written statement from the company. “Our goal is to add a new route each year so we can continue to contribute to a more integrated and sustainable European transportation network.” 

Bottom line

We’ve said it many times before: Train travel in Europe is booming right now. If you’re considering ditching the skies for a greener and more relaxed way of travel, you’re quickly becoming spoiled for choice on the continent. 

European Sleeper’s latest route expansion will take you between Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague, making it an excellent option for those wishing to see four great European capitals by rail. 

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