Greetings from fabulous Las Vegas. After a long work week and feeling ill for part of it, I'm hanging out in Sin City this weekend. Stay tuned for reviews of both the Palazzo and the Fontainebleau. In travel news this week, Spirit announced plans to halve its fleet, lots of new routes were added across the world, and several passengers behaved badly, plus much more.

Spirit Airlines has received approval from the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing package of up to $475 million as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring process. The approval, granted to the company’s plan backed by existing bondholders, marks a key step toward stabilizing the low-cost carrier’s financial position and ensuring continued operations.

If pasta is on a menu there is a good chance that I am ordering it. While flying on a very delayed flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), I got to try out American's Cheese Lasagne. This is available as a pre-order option and I selected it before the flight. The description had the dish outlined as: Cheese Lasagna with roasted tomatoes, baby arugula, marinara, brie cream cheese sauce.

As the United States federal government shutdown nears its third week, the effects are rippling across the nation’s airports. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are struggling to maintain critical operations with tens of thousands of federal employees working without pay. Pressure is also mounting on air traffic control centers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints with slowdowns and disruptions that could get much worse.

Spirit Airlines used to be the butt of most airline jokes, but it seems that lately Frontier Airlines is taking that title. A pair of NJ sisters flew from Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Frontier Airlines. Apparently, after arriving they got into an argument with a gate agent in the jet bridge and pushed her to the ground.

British Airways has debuted its new lounge design concept with the grand opening of its new flagship lounge at Miami International Airport (MIA). First announced in 2023, this marks a bold evolution in the airline’s premium customer experience. The new Miami lounge represents the first application of British Airways’ global redesign, created in partnership with architecture and design firm Gensler, and serves as the blueprint for all future lounge designs worldwide.

Southwest Airlines is set for a major expansion in Summer 2026 with new routes, increased flight frequencies, and new markets across North America. The airline will launch international service from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) for the first time, introduce new routes from San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). It will also begin operations…

Lufthansa’s highly anticipated Allegris cabin experience has officially arrived at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). This marks a major milestone in the airline’s global strategy. Starting today, passengers departing from Frankfurt can enjoy Lufthansa’s most advanced onboard product aboard its new Boeing 787-9, which feature cutting-edge technology across all travel classes. The first Allegris-equipped flight from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) took off today and it launches the next phase of Lufthansa’s long-haul transformation.

BermudAir connects Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) and Anguilla’s Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) (through its subsidiary: AnguillAir) to the United States and Canada. BermudAir is strengthening its presence in the New York market and announced plans to serve travelers from three major airports in the region by the end of October. The Bermudian carrier will now offer nonstop flights to Bermuda’s L.F.

As I wrote about yesterday, United Airlines has added four new European destinations to its summer 2026 schedule. With this latest expansion, United will serve more destinations in Europe than any other US airline and offer travelers an even broader range of options to explore the continent. Beginning in summer 2026, United will launch nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to:

As Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continue their integration into a single operation, travelers can look forward to a refreshed and unified cabin experience across both airlines beginning with flights in April 2026. The airlines are aligning their booking systems, seat offerings, and fare structures to create a consistent and flexible travel experience (while maintaining the distinctive touches that make each brand unique).

The United Club℠ at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) closed in February 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news for flyers headed to one of my favorite cities in the world is that the lounge reportedly reopened today, October 8th. The United Club℠ closed due to air traffic plummeting during the pandemic and remained closed as it was renovated.

United Airlines does a great job in building excitement for its new international route announcements. The carrier has made adding routes a fun guessing game with social media posts that offer clues as to where it will fly next. United has by far the best and most diverse international route network of any US carrier and it just keeps getting better.

A Spirit Airlines flight in Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) hit a snag when a female passenger refused to let any of the other passengers behind her deplane unless they let her daughter (who was seated in the back of the plane) pass them to get off first. Other passengers refused and the woman went on a wild, profanity-laced tirade.

I've written several times about Air Transat. Before last year, I had never even heard of the airline, but it was named the World's Best Leisure Airline in the Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Today, it announced an ambitious expansion of its summer 2026 network, introducing new transatlantic routes, extended southern destinations, and enhanced connectivity across Canada.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is celebrating its 106th anniversary by unveiling the newest addition to its iconic Delft Blue miniature collection: Villa Rameau. This is the historic former sexton’s residence located beside the Pieterskerk in Leiden. This symbolic choice honors a site deeply tied to transatlantic history and represents the enduring connections between the Netherlands and the United States. Villa Rameau, which is now home to the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, holds a unique place in Dutch and American heritage.

Travelers visiting American Airlines’ lounges this fall can look forward to fresh, seasonal menus inspired by regional flavors and crafted by James Beard Foundation-affiliated chefs. From hearty comfort dishes to globally inspired creations, the airline’s culinary program continues to bring elevated dining to travelers across the United States. Chef-Driven Dishes in Flagship® Lounges The fall Flagship® lounge menus spotlight creative dishes made with seasonal ingredients and showcase the talents of renowned chefs in several hub cities.

Airbus has officially claimed one of the most significant milestones in commercial aviation history. The Airbus A320 family of aircraft has surpassed the Boeing 737 as the most-delivered jetliner of all time. According to industry data from Cirium, Airbus reached this record with the delivery of its 12,260th A320-family aircraft to Saudi carrier Flynas on October 6th. This delivery nudged the European manufacturer just ahead of Boeing’s 737 line, which stands at 12,259 aircraft delivered since its introduction in 1968.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of Dazzler Select by Wyndham, a new franchise offering created to empower independent hoteliers in the economy lifestyle segment. The brand serves as an extension of Wyndham’s boutique-inspired Dazzler® by Wyndham portfolio and is designed to help owners maintain their properties’ individuality while leveraging the strength of Wyndham’s global platform. The debut of Dazzler Select comes amid a major growth opportunity in the US hospitality market.

Allegiant is celebrating Customer Appreciation Week and surprising travelers nationwide with nearly $1 million in free flights and exclusive giveaways. The weeklong festivities highlight the airline’s commitment to affordable, high-quality travel and gratitude toward its loyal customers. The party began Monday as Allegiant representatives and crew members surprised passengers at airports and onboard flights with $250 travel vouchers, redeemable for roundtrip flights and extras within the Allegiant network.

Hilton has unveiled Outset Collection by Hilton. It marks the hotel giant's 25th global brand and the eighth addition to its growing Lifestyle portfolio. The new collection expands Hilton’s presence in one of hospitality’s fastest-growing segments and caters to travelers seeking boutique-style hotels with authentic local character and independent design. Like Marriott's Autograph Collection or Design Hotels and Hyatt's Unbound Collection, Outset Collection is designed to meet the needs of guests looking for individually inspired stays while still enjoying the trust, service, and global reach of Hilton.

SkyTeam has enhanced its elite member experience with a new benefit that began rolling out on April 1st. Since then, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers have been able to enjoy lounge access when traveling on domestic flights across select member airlines. This marks a significant expansion of privileges, bringing the alliance in line with competing global networks such as oneworld® and Star Alliance.

Spirit Airlines is marking a major milestone in Chicago as it celebrates 25 years at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Since launching operations back in 2000, Spirit has offered affordable, nonstop service to destinations across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. To commemorate the 25th anniversary, Spirit is offering customers a special promotion of 25% off base fares using promo code "25PCT." The discount applies to one-way travel from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) booked between October 6th and October 12th for travel between October 20th and December 10th.

United Airlines and Instacart have launched a first-of-its-kind partnership to give United MileagePlus® members new ways to save time and earn rewards through everyday grocery delivery. The collaboration allows MileagePlus® members to enjoy $0 delivery fees on Instacart orders placed before, during, or shortly after a domestic United flight. This makes it easier to grab forgotten essentials, stock up at a vacation rental, or have groceries waiting at home after a trip.

I love going to Exuma in The Bahamas. The house that I usually rent was not available, so we decided to try out a resort in Nassau. I had heard good things about the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar and wanted to check out the property. The property opened in 2017 and is one of three luxury hotels housed within a massive complex.