Travel + Leisure

Southwest's famous boarding process may be up in the air. On Thursday, after reporting a net loss of $231 million, the Dallas-based airline announced a variety of changes, including the potential for new seating assignments and confirmed the closure of operations at several airports. 

Day visitors to Venice on Thursday had to pay to get in as the famous city started implementing the much-talked about day trip fee.

Travelers hoping to get their hands on a piece of aviation history are in luck as American Express and Delta Air Lines prepare to bring back limited-edition credit cards made from a pair of retired Boeing 747 planes.

JetBlue's latest in-flight entertainment updates can involve your whole travel crew.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new rules Wednesday requiring airlines to disclose all fees upfront as well as “promptly” provide refunds when they are owed. Under the new rule, travelers are entitled to a refund if an airline cancels or significantly changes their flight, like changing the departure or arrival time by more than 3 hours for domestic flights and 6 hours for international flights, the DOT shared with Travel + Leisure. Travelers can also demand a refund if an airline significantly delays their checked bags (more than 12 hours for domestic flights and 15 to 30 hours for international flights), or if the airline doesn’t provide the ancillary services a passenger purchased like Wi-Fi, seat selection, and in-flight entertainment. Airlines will now be required to issue a refund automatically without a passenger having to request one. The refund must be in the form of cash or the original form of payment, and airlines cannot substitute travel vouchers or other forms of compensation unless the passenger willingly accepts it.

One of the most opulent ways to fly in the sky is back — think a three-room suite in first class and a bar and lounging area on a double-decker jet.

Frontier is making it easier to jet around the Caribbean with several new routes from Puerto Rico, and is celebrating with flights starting at less than $60.

There’s nothing more annoying than waiting at the airport for a delayed flight, and that’s more likely to happen with some airlines than others.

A new bill in California is attempting to ban the biometric security company Clear in the state over protests it creates an unfair advantage for travelers who can afford the service.

Princess Cruises has pushed back the inauguration of its newest ship and canceled several sailings for next year in the process.

Lufthansa is taking off with its all-new first and business class seats ahead of the busy summer season. On May 1, the first Allegris premium cabins will start flying in the sky on select Lufthansa long-haul routes. The German airline confirmed that its first route with the Allegris product will fly between Munich and Vancouver on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft.  As more Airbus A350s get delivered soon to Lufthansa’s fleet, travelers will be able to experience Allegris on the carrier’s routes from Germany to Toronto, Chicago, and Montreal throughout the summer. The new Allegris seat was first announced in 2017, which promised a sleek new experience for passengers sitting up front. Onboard this Airbus A350, there will be three first-class suites equipped with separate bed and dining areas, marking Lufthansa’s first-ever double bed option designed for two passengers. “Every guest has their own understanding of premium, which is why we focus on maximum individuality and exclusivity,” CEO of Lufthansa, Jens Ritter, said in a statement about the new cabin. “The First Class Suite Plus conveys the feeling of privacy and individuality similar to a hotel room – only at an altitude of eleven kilometers.”

Construction of a high-speed railway between southern California and Las Vegas officially broke ground on Monday, bringing the West Coast one step closer to a sustainable transportation option between the two states.

United Airlines is in its generous era, with a deal offering 13% off flights just in time for superstar Taylor Swift's return to the United States. 

On the night of April 20, two of Earth’s interstellar neighbors will hang out in the evening sky — and you can admire them with your own two eyes, or better yet, a pair of binoculars.

The city of Amsterdam will ban nearly all new hotels and restrict the number of tourists who can stay overnight each year in its latest effort to combat overtourism.

The next few weeks are busy with meteor showers, including the Lyrids’ peak this weekend — a show that could bring eye-popping fireballs, depending on the conditions. The Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks overnight from April 21-22, is the first of two spring meteor showers; the second, the Eta Aquariids, will peak in early May.

Travelers to Yellowstone National Park should expect more traffic jams this summer as crews work on a pair of major improvement projects in the popular park.

The ultimate football and music experience may just be a hotel stay away. Members of Hilton's loyalty program, Hilton Honors, can now use their points to bid for tickets, and even a one-of-a-kind experience, at NFL star Travis Kelce’s upcoming Kelce Jam in Kansas City, Missouri. This year, the music festival will feature artists such as Lil Wayne, Diplo, 2 Chainz, IRIE and E-V. The event takes place on Saturday, May 18 at Azura Amphitheater in Kansas City — and Hilton reward members can bid on a a total of 5 different experiences at the festival. There are five packages available — each being offered as an auction item — with bidding starting at 200,000 points. Members will have the option to bid on this through April 25.«The Ultimate Kelce Jam Experience with Travis Kelce,» for starters, features a meet and greet, photo op, and private football toss with the NFL star. The package also includes VIP passes to the music festival, but does not include airfare or hotel accommodations.

The Paris Olympics is a sought-after ticket this summer, but Delta Vacations is making sure one lucky sports fan gets there in style with a free vacation package to see Team USA in the City of Lights.

Holland America Line is turning 151 and is celebrating by offering $1 deposits, up to 45% off cruise fares, and more.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has once again been crowned the busiest airport in the world, serving a whopping 104.6 million travelers in 2023. The Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, published its annual rankings on Monday. Most notably, Atlanta’s international airport saw an 11.7% increase in traffic from the previous year when it also ranked as the busiest airport in the world.   The demand for domestic flights remained robust, with ACI’s report indicating a recovery of 96.8% of the 2019 passenger traffic level. However, the most encouraging trend was the resurgence of international air travel, which experienced a robust 36.5% growth and welcomed 90.4% of passengers from pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.