News You Can Use – July 4, 2018

Last Updated on January 31, 2024

A Fare War Turns Europe Into a Bargain

Forget Yellowstone. Right now, you can buy a ticket to travel from New York to Paris in August — on a major American airline — for under $500.

Low prices on routes across the Atlantic are coming as budget carriers, Norwegian Air and Wow Air of Iceland in particular, increase routes in hopes of capturing summer travelers. Whether these low fares will last, especially if oil prices continue to climb, is uncertain.

“What used to be four-digit airfares in peak summer are now three digits,” said Robert W. Mann, an airline industry consultant. Mr. Mann describes the situation as “quite unusual,” suggesting travelers take advantage while they can.  The New York Times

The World’s Most Expensive Hotel Suite

Although it may seem like the epicenter of all things over-the-top is either Las Vegas or Dubai, the world’s most opulent hotel room is actually in Geneva, Switzerland — and it puts the rest of the world’s hotel suites to shame.

The Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson is officially the world’s most expensive, with rates now starting at approximately $80,000 per night.

In addition to having the biggest price tag, it’s also the largest suite in Europe. It’s a staggering 5,500 square feet of opulence (enough to occupy the entire eighth floor).  Travel + Leisure

JetBlue’s Founder Bringing New Budget Airline to the U.S.

JetBlue’s Founder is raising funds to launch a new low-cost airline, called Moxy, Airline Weekly reports. Moxy could launch as soon as 2020, as soon it takes delivery of its first aircraft.

Moxy has big plans for thinking small. The airline will use Bombardier CS5300 aircraft to shuttle passengers between smaller airports, like Providence, Rhode Island; Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles; and Chicago’s Gary International Airport.

But unlike other budget airlines currently on the market, Moxy would offer perks like ample legroom and free Wi-Fi.  Travel + Leisure

The Travel Credit Cards That Carry You Farthest

How fat do you want your wallet to be?

It’s not a rhetorical question, and not a cash count. In the competitive world of eye-popping credit-card travel rewards, the way to maximize benefits these days is to load your billfold with multiple cards.

You may want one card for everyday spending, one for travel and restaurant purchases, one to get lounge access and one to waive baggage and priority boarding fees if you don’t have elite status. You also might want one more for free hotel stays. And just signing up for a new card every year can get you a free ticket or multi-night hotel stay.  Wall Street Journal (subscription req’d)

Another Delay at the Airport: Snacks

When I was standing in the security line three weeks ago at Newark Liberty International Airport en route to Paris, I heard two Transportation Security Administration officers ask passengers to remove any food from their carry-ons and place it in a bin. “It’s a new policy,” one officer said. “Anything edible must now be screened separately.”

I travel with an extensive amount of food: Nuts, crackers, instant coffee packets, powdered nondairy creamer and dried fruit is the just the start of a long list. Rifling through my two carry-ons to find every last morsel took me more than five minutes, and after the initial screening, my bin was pulled aside.  The New York Times