Now that the northern hemisphere is firmly in the cooler months of the year—and it’s only getting colder—it’s time to talk fleece. For bitter winter chills, fleece is hard to beat because the fabric is made to be both lightweight and incredibly insulating. And in recent years, fleece technology has improved so much that the variety on offer is now immense both in quality, style, and price. If you thought that Colorado bros have the market cornered with their Patagonia zip-ups, it’s time to reconsider the category altogether.I was previously super hesitant about fleece because, for most of my life, I assumed its pieces all looked the same. But while shopping in Manchester last year, I came upon a button-up fleece chore jacket with a rounded collar from UK-based Universal Works that changed my mind about what fleece could look like. But in speaking with Universal Works design director and co-founder David Keyte about the material, I learned that the name is actually a catchall that could mean different things depending on where you are. “There really are so many different fleeces,” Keyte says. “It’s an amazing technical invention that replaced knitted wools and cottons to become a flexible layer of clothing that moves with the body and is warm. Fleece became the modern version of those traditional fabrics, but it’s made of synthetic fibers that hold warmth and are lightweight.”My jacket is a wool-blend fleece (that almost looks like boiled wool), which Keyte says is great for heat regulation. I use it from fall on; either on its own or layered underneath a heavier coat when it gets bitingly cold out. But regardless of which brand or style you go for, that’s kind of the benefit of fleece when it comes to outerwear or as a shirt or sweater: They offer enough warmth when worn on their own, but most are light enough to be another protective layer to partner with heavier items for harsher winter days. Here, you'll find our picks for 28 fleece items that will serve you well from now through spring.
'I think we're going to win': United CEO says airline is ready for industry's challenges
01.12.2023 - 21:47 / thepointsguy.com / Scott Kirby / Helane Becker / United Ceo
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on Thursday that he remains fully confident in his business plan for the airline despite some early concerns about the broader market.
Speaking with reporters after an event at United's hub at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Kirby suggested that United's broader two-pronged network plan — growing domestically by using bigger planes in crowded markets and expanding globally to capture international leisure demand — will build a successful path for the airline into the 2030s.
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"I think that demand is normalized," Kirby said. "This is the new normal."
United is increasing its global presence both by entrenching itself in tried-and-true international markets — such as London and Paris — and adding routes from various hubs, like San Francisco to Rome. The airline has also experimented by adding flights to smaller cities or destinations that might not have a direct flight from the U.S. already, especially on an American carrier.
Those newer markets are particularly aimed at leisure travelers, including VFR customers. VFR, shorthand in airline business lingo for "visiting friends and relatives," is a subset of leisure that is generally more price-conscious. Recent examples include Christchurch, New Zealand; Amman, Jordan; and Accra, Ghana.
As countries in Asia have reopened since the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the airline also plans to resume and expand service across the Pacific. It recently announced or initiated routes to cities including Taipei, Taiwan, and Manila, Philippines, along with Tokyo and Hong Kong.
However, concerns have recently begun to surface regarding the transatlantic market's outlook for next year. In a research note to investors this week, airline analyst Helane Becker of TD Cowan expressed concern that airlines are adding too much capacity for 2024 after seeing record demand and strong pricing power in summer 2023.
"We believe traffic in the market will return to more normal, seasonal levels," Becker wrote, "resulting in possible overcapacity."
This could be good news for passengers, as "an overcapacity situation is developing in the North Atlantic that is likely to lead to lower air fares," the Cowen note reads. However, it would lead to lower yields for airlines like United and would force them to pull back.
Kirby, however, disagreed with the TD Cowen assessment.
"I think that they're overstating the challenge for next summer, and mostly, there's higher capacity growth in the winter," he said. "We feel really good, still, about transatlantic demand."
Kirby added that despite his expectations for strong demand, United will not put
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