Travel in San Francisco

It’s another mishap for snake-bitten United Airlines.

For the first time ever, the profound and mystical journey of wild Pacific salmon will swim into IMAX and other giant-screen theaters around the world late next year. The new film in production from a team of seasoned large format veterans will be set in one of the Earth’s wildest, most pristine, and threatened places – the stunning mountainous river systems of the North Pacific. Wild salmon are some of the planet’s most valuable species, often approaching $1 billion in economic output annually in Alaska alone.

United Airlines has scrapped plans for a new transatlantic route this summer, just weeks ahead of its maiden flight. The highly unusual decision to cancel the service comes amid an audit of the company by U.S. regulators.

A 420-mete white steel tube running alongside a railway line in the windswept northern Netherlands could usher in a new era in the transportation of people and freight.

Last year, my husband and I splurged on round-trip first-class tickets on Japan Airlines from San Francisco to Tokyo for $13,474 each. We reserved them in February for an October flight through American Express Travel. On the same day, I also bought business class tickets for a couple who was traveling with us at $8,429 apiece. In September, Amex notified me that we had been downgraded to business class for the return flight. JAL’s conditions state that we would receive “the difference between the normal fare amount of original class of service and for the normal fare of lower class of service.” To me that means that since the difference between our first class seats and our friends’ business seats was $5,045 each, we should be refunded about half of that — around $2,522 per person — for the second leg. But we got only $941 each. I contested this with Amex Travel, but they rejected our claim. Can you help?

This week, Virgin Atlantic launched flights to the start-up capital of India, Bengaluru, a key destination for US customers connecting onwards via London Heathrow from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Seattle, and more. With average connection times of one to two hours, the route promises optimal connectivity for those traveling for business or enjoying a vibrant city stay in India’s third most populous city.

Seattle is getting yet another new transpacific route.

As the largest carrier at Sonoma County Airport since 2007, Alaska Airlines now offering service to seven nonstop destinations.

Seattle becomes STARLUX’s third nonstop U.S. destination from Taipei with its world-class service and amenities; premier carrier is one of our newest global airline partners.

Regent Santa Monica Beach opens this summer on a prized stretch of Santa Monica sand, bringing with it a restaurant from heralded chef Michael Mina, a café and boutique from celebrity/entrepreneur Ayesha Curry, a 10,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa, an oceanfront pool deck and beach butler service.

A Delta Air Lines passenger who says she was escorted off a flight for not wearing a bra is calling on the carrier to change its policy.

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

The popularity of outdoor activities surged during the pandemic, with record numbers of novice hikers escaping their cramped quarters for the fresh air of national parks and forests. And now that the clocks have sprung forward, the trailheads are beckoning again. These six podcasts focus on our relationship to the natural world, delivering practical advice, dramatic survival stories and first-person tributes to the transformative power of the outdoors.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts

There's an interesting development, and potentially a negative one, to report from Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Alaska appears to be banning the use of other programs' loyalty numbers on award tickets when booked with Alaska Mileage Plan.

Short-term rental operators including Kasa Living, Placemakr, and AvantStay are taking over properties managed by Sonder. 

If you've ever dreamed of traveling to New Zealand, with its spectacular landscapes, stunning national parks and natural wonders like Milford Sound, there is excellent award availability using Star Alliance miles in April. Best of all, you can travel nonstop in business class from the West Coast.

On a recent spring day, I started mildly stressing about booking my family’s Thanksgiving flights for four people traveling from San Francisco to Raleigh, North Carolina. Airfare deals have been much harder to come by in the aftermath of the pandemic due to the strong return in travel demand, so I had a feeling we needed to act fast if we were going to fly at a decent price during a popular travel period.

United Airlines is making a change that should improve the passenger experience on some of its smallest jets.

As the world prepares for the 2024 Summer Olympics from Paris between July 26 and August 11, Air France is expanding service to the United States and North America to support the increased demand.

The start of 2024 has brought a barrage of concerning headlines about commercial air travel.