AFAR Media

When it comes to flying in business class, no one does it quite like Air France. Known for their Francophile food options—which begin from the moment you step into their lounges, stocked with petite macarons, croque madames, and classic French cocktails, such as the Kir Royal—amenity kits with products from French brand Clarins, and impeccable service, a flight with the airline is like getting a little slice of la vie française. Although already an excellent experience, this past summer, the airline began rolling out updated business-class cabins, starting with flights from Paris to New York City. But things just got even better: This month, Air France is offering travelers the chance to win a pair of free tickets to experience their business-class offering for themselves.

For many travelers, arguably the majority of travelers, upgrading to business class is about one main thing: getting better sleep in the sky. So, it’s perhaps not too surprising that United Airlines’ newest upgrades to its Polaris international business-class seats are focused on helping fliers better rest and relax.

If you’ve ever flown a long-haul flight, you’ve probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—blood clots, typically in the calves, that have been associated with flying. These clots can travel to the lungs and cause life-threatening blockages known as pulmonary embolisms.

In what was Delta Air Lines’ first public statement since a September 13 press release presented the Atlanta-based carrier’s revamped SkyMiles loyalty program and lounge access policy, Delta chief executive Ed Bastian this week said the airline plans to make “modifications” to the changes.

In the so-called glamorous early days of air travel, an airplane cabin was filled with dressed-up passengers and a miasma of cigarette smoke. Even with smoking sections, the clouds would waft through curtains (if there were any at all) and into the nonsmoking areas. Today, things are vastly different, and smoking is prohibited everywhere in the cabin. But if smoking has been banned on flights for more than three decades, why are there still ashtrays on airplanes? Here’s the lowdown on why ashtrays still exist on aircraft and what happens when someone smokes on a plane now.

If you keep the shades on airplane windows open during your flight, they can provide spectacular views, and if you pull them down, you’ll get a little extra comfort when it’s time to nap. Granted, the debate about the etiquette of either choice is a heated one, but there’s another big discussion that those window shades spark: Should they be open or closed during takeoff and landing? Well, the answer depends on what airline you’re flying.

Picture it: You battled your way through summer holiday traffic going to the airport, and waited in what felt like the world’s longest security line, only to have your flight diverted two hours in, resulting in your flight reaching its destination three hours later than planned?

Qatar Airways plans to expand its flight schedule across U.S. airports and has its sights set on reaching 250 destinations worldwide, CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters at a news conference in Seattle earlier this month.

Last week, as weather and airline staffing woes roiled air travel yet again, fliers hoping for a post-summer respite got some unwelcome news: the air traffic controller shortage is so severe that it could hobble airline operations for the next five years—or more, according to industry officials.

If you’re already thinking ahead to next summer, you’re not alone. Recently, Delta announced a slew of new, returning, and expanded flight routes, many from its Atlanta hub to popular destinations in the American West, slated to kick off in summer 2024.

It’s no secret that the return in air travel following the pandemic has been turbulent. But despite the challenges, including a return to prepandemic passenger volumes this year, an unrelenting pilot and air traffic controller shortage, and high numbers of delays and cancellations, overall passenger satisfaction has improved somewhat, according to a new study released by J.D. Power this week.

Earlier this year, the cost of flights had reached some of the highest levels they had been in years as swarms of travelers embraced revenge travel with a fervor, flaunting their willingness to pay exorbitant prices for flights to just about anywhere as everyone played the game of postpandemic travel catch-up. What we didn’t know as we handed over our credit cards with a whatever-it-takes resolve was that some degree of relief was on its way.

Lufthansa, the largest air carrier in Europe, is betting demand for European holidays will still be high next year with its latest expansion announcement.

An exciting new club is coming down the pike for Centurion Lounge fans—American Express just announced it will bring the first of its popular lounges to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Prior to the pandemic, a slowly growing number of U.S. airports had started allowing visitors to do something they used to be able to do regularly in the pre-9/11 era of air travel: meet and mingle at the terminal gates, see their friends and family take off, or welcome loved ones with a warm embrace right at the gate, regardless of whether they were flying anywhere.

Come January 1, 2024, it’s going to get a lot harder to obtain Delta elite status and access the airline’s proprietary Sky Club lounges. In a major overhaul to its SkyMiles program, Delta will be moving to a single metric, Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), as the basis for earning status. (Spoiler: major spending will be the sole method for achieving elite status.) Around the same time, the airline will begin to limit entry to Sky Club lounges, turning away Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders as well as those flying on Basic Economy fares; later, new restrictions will take effect for AmEx Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders. Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming changes as Delta doomsday approaches.

United has doubled down on its commitment to The Mile High City. While travelers have had to duke it out for space in airport lounges nationwide, the airline is offering its loyal fliers some breathing room in the form of a new lounge at its Denver International Airport hub—and it’s the largest in the brand’s history.

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When people refer to “big” airports, they typically think of large hubs with huge numbers of passengers transiting through. But bigger doesn’t always mean busier. The biggest airports in the world are those that occupy the highest total acreage of land. And yes, some of the biggest are also some of the world’s busiest—but not always. Some are hubs that have big hopes for future growth, while others have interesting stories behind how and why they acquired and maintain such a large footprint.

When European low-cost Corendon Airlines announced on August 23 that it would reserve the front rows of its Amsterdam-Curação flights for passengers 16-years-old or older, the news resurfaced the age-old debate about how to balance the needs of traveling families with those who are flying without kids.

Hawaiian Airlines recently unveiled reimagined cabins that will be featured on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners when the aircraft enter service in early 2024, complete with tip-to-tail interior upgrades, including the Honolulu-based carrier’s new business-class Leihōkū Suites, revamped economy seats, and an interior design inspired by the islands. Now the tickets for the first flights are on sale.