A New Frontier? Carrier Scraps Most Change Fees in Premium Push

Contiki, the leading tour operator for young adult travelers, launched a new trip to New Zealand, a 15-day "Real New Zealand" itinerary that combines the country’s cultural and adventure travel experiences. 

Wyndham’s top boss wants to shed his hotel group’s reputation for focusing on economy hotels in the U.S. through a strategy to expand worldwide and offer brands that range from economy to luxury.

Don't ask me where May went, I truly don't know. This month was a wild one for this hotel reporter. It started with my own wedding here in New York City, followed by a honeymoon in Paris, and the chance to catch the first night of the European leg of Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour." I then immediately joined a wonderful retreat with TPG's travel team in Washington, D.C.

Economy class is exactly what it sounds like: a standard airplane seat with very few frills. Basic economy has even fewer. A lot of times that’s OK; we’ll put up with it just to get where we’re going. But sometimes we travelers want something better—say, a little extra legroom and little more dignity. That’s where airlines’ premium offerings come in. In some cases, that’s called Premium Economy; other times, though, the cabin class is an additional step up from that—closer to the business end of the spectrum than the coach end. The perks of this upper-middle part of the plane vary from airline to airline—as does the price—so we asked our staff and reporters to weigh in on which airlines offer a version of Premium Economy that is worth the cost. In my own travels, I recently tried out KLM’s “Premium Comfort” class, which is yet another level up for fliers. Here’s what we all had to say.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with American Airlines and partners, initiates the commercial redevelopment of JFK’s Terminal 8, enhancing the travel experience with local art and expanded facilities.

Aer Lingus will move to JFK Airport’s new $4.2 billion Terminal 6 in 2026, featuring a signature lounge and enhanced passenger amenities.

For Colorado wildlife artist John Kobald, inspiration and expression are as natural as the surroundings of his sporting life. At his heart, he is an artist who, when he’s not living the outdoor life, is creating it. He has mastered multiple mediums, for his motivation is simply to bring canvas and clay to life in a way that is moving and memorable.

CEO Andre Viljoen is leading Fiji Airways through a time of record growth and change. His airline only has 20 aircraft (including Fiji Link regional planes), but operates an impressive hub-and-spoke network that optimizes aircraft use via a robust schedule connecting all corners of the Pacific Ocean through Fiji. Viljoen comes to Fiji Airways after a distinguished career leading another island carrier, Air Mauritius.

True to form, I was welcomed to Scotland in the pouring rain.

For those who love to visit the poshest places on earth, a new study by Optimos travel ranks Aspen, Colorado as the most expensive vacation destination in the United States. According to the survey, visitors can expect to spend more than $761 a day in Aspen—although that amount fluctuates by season and how large you live. Rounding out the top three destinations are Park City, Utah and Maui, Hawaii.

Private clubs such as Soho House, Zero Bond and Casa Cipriani cemented a long-held Manhattan tradition of the city’s elite clamoring for exclusive spaces. Of course, there will always be the old vanguard — like the Yale Club, Harvard Club and New York Yacht Club — but freshly unwrapped Centurion New York towers over many high-end hideaways from its lavish perch on the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt building.

Kristina Samples is appointed as the General Manager of The Grill Room at Windsor Court. New Sommelier of The Grill Room is Eric De Santis.