Why Haven’t More Airlines Tightened Rules Around Lithium Batteries Despite Mounting Safety Concerns?
In January 2025 an Air Busan Airbus A321 caught fire on the tarmac in Busan after a passenger’s lithium‑ion power bank overheated, injuring seven people. The incident has intensified scrutiny of portable battery safety on aircraft. IATA recently issued new minimum standards that ban in‑flight charging, limit passengers to two power banks under 160 Wh, and require them to stay in the cabin. So far only a few carriers such as Qantas have formally adopted the rules, while others like Emirates have already imposed even stricter limits.
Full List: TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID Is Now Open in 58 US Airports
TSA has rolled out its PreCheck® Touchless ID program to 58 airports, with a target of 65 by late spring. The service, available only to enrolled PreCheck members, uses facial recognition to verify identity without presenting an ID or boarding...
Real Reason Guests Book Via an OTA Instead of Your Website
Travelers often encounter hotels first on an online travel agency (OTA), turning the property into a line‑item among many rather than a distinct brand. The article argues that low direct bookings stem from this upstream introduction problem, not merely a...
Press Release: Starling Aerospace to Unveil New Seat Family at AIX
Starling Aerospace will debut its new SA‑designated seat family at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, featuring the economy‑focused SA4000, the premium modular SA5000, and the ultra‑luxury rotating SA6000 for private jets. The lineup emphasizes weight efficiency, advanced connectivity, and...
Accor Signs Deal with EXTENDAM to Expand TRIBE in Paris
Accor has signed a partnership with private‑equity firm EXTENDAM to develop a 209‑room TRIBE hotel in Paris’ Python‑Duvernois redevelopment. The mixed‑use project, covering 100,000 sqm and featuring residential, office, retail and a 3.3‑hectare park, targets a 2028 opening and BREEAM Excellent...
Three Financial Guardrails You Need Before Opening a Fourth Location
Opening a fourth restaurant shifts a business from proof‑of‑concept to true scale, exposing hidden cash‑flow gaps and operational blind spots. Operators must move beyond optimistic pro‑formas and run a consolidated stress test that captures cannibalization, tighter vendor terms, and construction...
Panasonic Enjoys Rapid IFE Growth as Connected Seatback Takes Wing
Panasonic Avionics reports rapid growth of its Astrova OLED inflight entertainment (IFE) platform as airlines adopt low‑latency LEO satellite connectivity, notably United Airlines’ Starlink rollout. United’s Starlink‑enabled seatbacks now let passengers stream personal services such as Spotify directly on the...
Airlines Are Always Looking to Cut Costs, But This Viral Video Is Something Else
Airlines are intensifying cost‑reduction programs as fuel prices surge and labor expenses climb, but a viral video of a Cheez‑It bag with only three crackers is a packaging mishap, not a deliberate airline cut. Carriers are instead focusing on trimming...
Caesars Rewards Amex Offer for Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe & Atlantic City
American Express cardholders can earn a one‑time $40 statement credit after spending at least $200 on room rates at participating Caesars Rewards hotels in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City between March 6 and May 24, 2026. The credit applies only to room charges...
Why Airlines Are Really Obssessed With Net Promoter Scores… How It Can Help Them Save Money
Airlines have turned Net Promoter Score (NPS) into a core performance metric, with industry averages hovering between +35 and +45. Southwest once posted an exceptional +71, highlighting the competitive edge a high NPS can provide. Carriers use NPS to pinpoint...
![United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/fa1b25c07b53d3ff28298596c7fdf3f9.webp)
United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]
United Airlines flight attendants have not received a wage increase in 5.5 years, with only a 2% bump in 2020, while union dues are set to rise. The American Flight Attendants (AFA) union reports that 91% of its members feel...
Cathay Pacific 10% To 15% Award Rebate Select Destinations May 5 – June 30, 2026 (Book By March 22)
Cathay Pacific has launched an award‑rebate promotion for Asia Miles members traveling to or from Hong Kong between May 5 and June 30 2026. Members who register and book by March 22 receive a 10% mileage rebate on one‑way flights and a 15% rebate on...
The Resort at Kapalua Bay Is Being Converted Into a St. Regis to Bring the Brand Back to Hawaii
Marriott International announced that The Resort at Kapalua Bay on Maui will be converted into a St. Regis hotel, slated for completion in 2027. The luxury property will remain operational throughout the renovation, which will upgrade its 146 ocean‑view residences and...
Martha Stewart Opens Second Bedford Restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Martha Stewart has launched a second The Bedford restaurant inside Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The new venue mirrors the farmhouse-inspired design of the original Las Vegas location, using marble countertops and copper cookware to evoke Stewart’s 1925 Westchester home....
New Amtrak Train Route Will Connect The Midwest’s 2 Most Beautiful Cities
Amtrak announced a new intercity rail line connecting Chicago, Illinois, and Madison, Wisconsin. The route will run twice daily, stopping in Milwaukee, Pewaukee, and Watertown, and is slated for launch in the early 2030s. Madison, which currently lacks direct Amtrak...
Cranky on the Web: Iran, Summer Airfare, Skiplagging
Investopedia warns that the ongoing Iran war could force airlines to cut capacity, pushing summer airfare higher and creating uncertainty around optimal booking windows. Forbes reiterates that skiplagging, or hidden‑city ticketing, is a breach of carrier contracts and is legally...
What Are Choice Points Worth?
Frequent Miler’s latest analysis shows Choice Privileges points now have a Reasonable Redemption Value (RRV) of 0.75 cents per point, up from 0.67. The figure is based on roughly 980,000 award‑price searches across nearly 5,000 U.S. and international properties using...
Rove Miles: Transferable Points without a Credit Card | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep349 | 3-13-26
Frequent Miler’s latest episode spotlights Rove Miles, a points program that lets members transfer miles without needing a credit card. The show highlights new transfer partners—Japan Airlines with a 50% bonus through March 31 and SAS with a 20% bonus through...
American Express Adds New Restrictive Language To Marriott Cards
American Express has revised the eligibility language on its personal Marriott co‑branded credit cards, expanding the list of cards and timeframes that disqualify new applicants from receiving the welcome bonus. The new terms now block anyone who held any Marriott‑related...
Earn Travel Credits for Booking Through Capital One Business Travel
Capital One is rolling out a limited‑time promotion for select business‑card members, offering up to $600 in travel credits when bookings are made through its Business Travel portal. The program features three tiers—$300, $200 or $150 credits awarded after spending...
Why Independent Hotels Need a North Star More Than Ever
Independent hotels are thriving in a market that craves authentic, character‑driven experiences, yet they face a paradox: the very cues that once set them apart—boutique aesthetics, local storytelling, curated design—have become industry clichés. As a result, many properties struggle to...
Our Marrakech Hotels List
The piece charts Marrakech’s rapid boutique‑hotel expansion, contrasting stays inside the UNESCO‑listed medina with countryside retreats beyond the city walls. It highlights signature riads such as Dar Kawa, noted for its stark black‑white aesthetic and homemade couscous, and Izza Marrakech,...
Good News for United: Southwest to Exit Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles Airports in June
Southwest Airlines will cease all flights at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) on June 4, ending service at two United hubs. The carrier will continue its dominant presence at Chicago Midway, operating roughly 244 daily departures to over...
IHG Middle East, Africa, India & South Asia New Hotels Up To 28% Off March 2026 Update
IHG is promoting its newly opened hotels across the Middle East, Africa, India and South Asia with a limited‑time discount of up to 25% off the Best Flexible Rate, plus an additional 3% for IHG One Rewards members, effectively delivering...
Qatar Airways Point-to-Point Charter Flights Not Touching Doha For Stranded Passengers
Qatar Airways has launched a handful of point‑to‑point charter flights to relocate stranded passengers, operating roughly fifteen services—about 5% of its pre‑conflict schedule. The flights, announced on March 13‑14, connect Hanoi‑Paris, Bangkok‑Munich, Bangkok‑Warsaw and Colombo‑Frankfurt and are only bookable through...
Atlantis The Royal Announces a Resort in the Maldives
Atlantis The Royal announced its first Maldives resort, slated to open in 2029 on a dual‑island site in South Malé Atoll. The development will offer 270 guest rooms, 223 villas and private mansions, plus a 70,000‑square‑metre Aquaventure waterpark and 20...
How Chainway Help Solves RFID Linen Management at Marriott: RFID Journal Case Study
Marriott International deployed Chainway’s MC51 UHF handheld as part of an RFID Linen Management System, embedding washable tags in sheets, towels and robes. The solution automates inbound receipt, housekeeping issuance, and outbound handover through bulk scanning at key checkpoints. MC51’s...
Hyatt Business Card Hits A Record 80,000 Points — The Fastest Way To Spend Toward Status
Hyatt’s World of Hyatt Business Credit Card now offers a record‑breaking 80,000 bonus points after $10,000 of spending in the first three months, up from the prior 60,000‑point offer tied to a $5,000 spend. The card accelerates elite night credits,...
The AI SEO Checklist For Restaurants
AI‑driven search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity no longer rely on traditional SEO signals such as meta tags or backlinks. Instead they pull from third‑person, recommendation‑style content and trusted mentions across the web. For restaurants, this means they can...
Press Release: Vueling Selects Gategroup to Support Retail and Catering
Vueling, a leading IAG‑owned carrier, has appointed gategroup as its new Retail‑on‑Board and catering partner across its European network. The agreement introduces gategroup’s 360° digital retail ecosystem, delivering real‑time analytics, data‑driven touchpoints and streamlined onboard operations. In parallel, gategroup will...
What Still Works For Amex Airline Incidental Credits In 2026?
American Express continues to offer a $200 airline incidental credit on its Platinum and Business Platinum cards, but the program has grown more restrictive. Cardholders must select a preferred airline and wait 24‑48 hours before charging eligible fees such as baggage,...
United Airlines Sued After 4-Year-Old Is Burned By 200-Degree Tea — But Airline Liability Is Capped
United Airlines faces a lawsuit after a four‑year‑old was scalded by 200‑degree tea on a Newark‑Tel Aviv flight. The plaintiff relies on the Montreal Convention, which obliges carriers to compensate for onboard injuries but caps damages at about $216,000. The dispute...
JetBlue Expands Fort Lauderdale Flights With More Frequencies
JetBlue announced a major schedule expansion at Fort Lauderdale‑Hollywood International Airport, adding daily year‑round service to Jacksonville and Cartagena and increasing frequencies to Dallas‑Fort Worth and Tampa. The airline will double flights on the Dallas and Tampa routes, moving from...
Beware of Basic Economy Fares
Travelers chasing the lowest online fare often encounter basic economy tickets that appear cheap but come with significant restrictions. These fares typically exclude seat selection, limit baggage, offer no refunds, and may forfeit frequent‑flyer mileage accrual. For roughly $30 more...
Press Release: Korean Air to Reclaim Full Ownership of Catering Ops
Korean Air announced it will acquire the remaining 80% stake in Korean Air C&D Service from Hahn & Company for an estimated KRW 750 billion, bringing the in‑flight catering and duty‑free business back under full ownership. The board approved the purchase...
Why Hotels Should Add Bing to Their Channel Mix
Hotels traditionally rely on Google Ads for paid search, but the article argues that adding Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) can broaden reach and drive incremental direct bookings. Bing’s network, which includes Bing, Yahoo, and partner sites, captures a sizable share...
ITB 2026: Data Infrastructure Challenges Facing the Travel Industry
At ITB 2026 industry leaders highlighted that legacy batch‑based data pipelines are throttling revenue‑management and AI initiatives. Competitive intelligence feeds still refresh once daily, creating a lag that undermines dynamic pricing. Airlines cited the rise of NDC and low‑cost carriers...
American Airlines Flight Attendants Declare WAR on Chief Executive Robert Isom With Strike Regalia
Flight attendants at American Airlines, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), have revived their strike‑ready red lanyards and pins to pressure CEO Robert Isom to step down after a recent vote of no confidence. The union’s “WAR”...
United Partners With Chef’s Table to Bring World-Renowned Chefs to Business Class Dining
United Airlines has teamed with Netflix’s Chef’s Table series to launch a new Polaris business‑class dining program. Starting August 1, eleven world‑renowned chefs will craft ten regionally inspired meals, each featuring an appetizer, salad and entrée. The menus will debut on...
Where ‘Wow’ Factor Design Meets Operational Discipline
Restaurants are merging bold, maximalist design with operational efficiency to meet evolving guest expectations. The “death of beige” sees saturated colors, layered textures, and immersive storytelling replace minimalist aesthetics. Operators adopt food halls, selective technology, and 21+ bar concepts to...
Resident Loyalty Platform Bilt Acquires Travel Agency Business Sion
Resident loyalty platform Bilt announced the acquisition of travel‑advisor management firm Sion for $30 million. The deal gives Bilt access to Sion’s technology and a team that supports over 8,000 travel advisors and manages more than $7 billion in booking revenue. Bilt’s...
Executive Housekeepers in the Spotlight at Halekulani
Audrey Goh has served as Executive Housekeeper at Halekulani in Honolulu since 1991, overseeing a team of more than 160 room attendants. The pandemic forced the department to lose 50 staff members, prompting a broadened recruitment strategy and intensive training...
Breeze Airways Cuts Nine Routes and Adds One
Breeze Airways announced the termination of nine routes across its network, including under‑performing services from Manchester to Orlando, Tampa to Orange County, and several Westchester County connections. The airline will introduce a single new route, offering twice‑weekly flights between Raleigh‑Durham...
Leading Hotels of the World Points Sale: Get up to 100% Bonus (6 Cents per Point)
Leading Hotels of the World launched a points sale from February 17 to April 3, 2026, offering three purchase tiers with 50%, 75% and 100% bonus points. The top tier drops the effective price to 6 cents per point, half...
Three-Michelin-Star Chef Heinz Beck to Lead Culinary Transformation at Orient Express Venezia
Orient Express Venezia has hired three‑Michelin‑star chef Heinz Beck to oversee its entire culinary program. Beck will design menus for the flagship 20‑seat Heinz Beck Venezia restaurant, casual venues like La Casati, and the Wagon Bar, drawing on lagoon ingredients...
BermudAir Unveils Expanded Summer 2026 Schedule With 29 Weekly Flights
BermudAir announced its summer 2026 schedule, offering 29 weekly flights from nine North American gateways. The airline adds daily service from Boston and combined daily frequencies for the New York area, while Toronto sees six‑day‑a‑week operations. All flights use Embraer...
Delta Launches Euro Summer 2026 Travel Inspiration Campaign With Interactive Destination Quiz
Delta Air Lines has rolled out a digital campaign called Delta Destinations to inspire European summer travel for 2026. The initiative pairs curated city guides—starting with Amsterdam, Malta, Porto and London—with an interactive “Euro Summer Destination Match Quiz” that aligns...
Delta Air Lines Is Planning Nonstop Los Angeles to Manila Flights for Summer 2027
Delta Air Lines announced plans to launch a daily nonstop flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport starting in summer 2027. The service will be operated with an Airbus A350‑900 configured with 32 Delta One,...
Bilt 2.0 Is Charging 0.2% Foreign Transaction Fees Despite Claiming There Are None
Bilt’s newly launched 2.0 credit cards are marketed as having no foreign transaction fees, yet users have identified a 0.2% charge on overseas purchases. The fee originates from Mastercard’s mandatory currency‑conversion surcharge, which most issuers absorb but Bilt appears to...
Why Restaurants Should Embrace the Inner Kidult
The article highlights the growing "Kidult" trend—adults, especially Gen Z, who gravitate toward nostalgic, child‑like experiences—as a low‑cost, high‑impact lever for restaurants. Data from Placer.ai shows that promotions such as McDonald’s Grinch Meal and Starbucks’ Bearista generated the largest traffic spikes...