Reasons to fly with British Airways

We’re on a journey to A Better BA and recently launched our £7bn transformation plan, the biggest ever investment of our business – focusing on revolutionising how we work and rolling out the very latest leading-edge technology to deliver the best customer experience. ​​

As a global airline and the UK’s flag carrier, we have been flying customers to where they need to be for more than 100 years.

We connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain, operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks together with our joint businesses codeshare and franchise partners.

Benefits of booking British Airways

Customers have a generous free baggage allowance on our standard fares – with two free carry-ons and 23kg allowance for checked bags and 32kg in First and Club

Complimentary meals and drinks designed by our culinary experts on all long-haul flights, across all cabins

Complimentary snack and bottle of water on all short-haul flights for our Euro Traveller customers

Free seat selection within 24 hours of departure

Executive Club Members get free WiFi messaging

Executive Club members can collect Avios on every flight and holiday, as well as more than 2,000 retailers to spend on flights, hotels, car hire, excursions and much more

We offer a 24-hr cooling-off period on bookings in case you change your mind

There’s no charge to pay for bookings by debit or credit card We operate from four London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City and Stansted) to centrally located airports at convenient times of day our customers want to fly

Exclusive benefits at British Airways

We’re the only European airline to offer First class between the UK and US

We’re the only UK airline to offer business class on every flight – including domestic services

We’re the only airline to employ a Master of Wine full-time

We’re the only airline to allow customers to book Avios-Only flights for as little as £1 plus 18,500

We’re the first airline to offer bespoke Proactive Customer Care support at 35,000 feet. Our customer care teams can now connect with cabin crew on over 300 daily flights, meaning they can provide customers with real-time solutions on board

LOYALTY SCHEME

British Airways’ industry-leading loyalty programme, the British Airways Executive Club, is free to join and open to all customers. Its currency is Avios, which can be collected through flying with British Airways and its partner airlines, taking a holiday, purchasing from 2,000+ retailers on shopping.ba.com, or everyday spending with a range of partners such as American Express.

Members also earn Tier Points when flying which unlock exclusive benefits when climbing through the Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold Tiers. Benefits include access to British Airways’ global network of premium lounges (more than any other European airline), fast-track security and priority boarding.

We launched Avios Only flights in 2023, which are flights made up exclusively of Reward Seats. The first long-haul Avios Only flight took place in October 2024, which saw families travel to Dubai from £100 + 60,000 Avios. In 2024, we made every seat on every flight available for as little as £1 by improving the Pay with Avios proposition across our global network.

NEW AIRCRAFT

British Airways flies to around 200 destinations in more than 75 countries, operating more than 285 aircraft including the A380, A350, 787, 777, A321, A320 and A319.

In 2024, we took delivery of 13 new fuel-efficient aircraft, including an Airbus A350-1000, four 787-10’s, six A320neo and two A321neo aircraft.

Many of these aircraft offer between a 20-35% reduction in emissions and offer a modern and elevated travel experience for customers. All new aircraft delivered to British Airways feature the award-winning new business class seat, Club Suite.

CABINS

Our teams are busy working on installing our award-winning Club Suite cabins across some of our long-haul Heathrow based aircraft with two-thirds of long-haul aircraft flying with Club Suite.

On board our new A320 and A321neo aircraft, we’ve introduced new short-haul seats and cabin interiors, featuring a new design, larger overhead bins and USB charging at every seat. These designs are made with the highest quality materials from all corners of the UK.

We will introduce a brand-new and exclusive First suite. The airline expects the new seat to make its debut at the end of 2025 into early 2026 as part of its A380 aircraft refurbishment.

DINING

We continue to invest in menus that reflect our commitment to using British provenance and premium ingredients from local producers that champion the ‘Best of British’ cuisine. Menus are carefully curated by our culinary experts and have been thoughtfully paired with beverage options from our inflight drinks menu.

In addition, we also offer menus with regional variations that feature cuisines tailored to specific routes, and seasonal menus to celebrate festivities throughout the year, such as Diwali and Thanksgiving.

All our wines are carefully selected by our Master of Wine, and we’ve recently expanded our Club World wine selection from four to six options, including Whispering Angel which is now available on board and its big sister, Rock Angel returns to First. Each quarter, our specially curated wine menus spotlight wines from a different region around the world for customers in Club World and First.

FIRST

First customers are invited to use our First Wing, a private check-in area and two dedicated security lanes that lead customers directly into our First Lounge. Customers travelling in First are invited to use our exclusive Concorde Room.

On board, our First cabin offers super-soft, sophisticated loungewear designed exclusively by luxury British fashion brand, Temperley London, slippers, and bespoke amenity kits. They feature Temperley’s “Star” design, filled with products from No.1 British skincare brand, Elemis, including products from the highly sought after Ultra Smart pro-collagen range. The amenity kit contains the essentials to cleanse, revive and hydrate.

More than 1,100 cabin crew are specially trained as part of our First Service Specialist scheme, to elevate the first-class experience. Customers can create their own dining experience with our à la carte ‘Dine Anytime’ menu. All signature dishes are made with quality British ingredients and delivered with impeccable service.

Customers travelling in first can settle into their own spacious suite, perfect for customers to work in peace using free Wi-Fi, watch a film on our 15-inch screens, or stretch out and relax, with a luxurious quilted mattress, crisp white cotton duvet and pillow.

CLUB WORLD

We have partnered with The White Company to provide amenity kits and luxurious bedding for customers to help unwind and relax whilst on board. We offer a brasserie-style dining experience, allowing customers to select their choice of freshly prepared starters, mains and desserts.

Our award-winning Club Suite is available on all London Heathrow – New York (JFK) routes and on a variety of long-haul routes, such as Denver, Barbados and Mumbai. The new suite made its debut on our Airbus A350 aircraft and is now available across many of our Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. We are continuing to retrofit our long-haul fleet at Heathrow, with two-thirds of long-haul aircraft flying with Club Suite.

LOUNGES

British Airways has the largest number of lounges of any European airline and as part of our £7bn transformation plan, we are refreshing our lounges across our network.

Customers can relax in our refreshed First, Galleries (business class) and Arrival lounges at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and 5, Edinburgh and Lagos. We are also working our two new lounges in Dubai and Miami airports, ready for 2025.

In selected First and Club lounges, we introduced new culinary choices for customers to enjoy, including new food servers and deli stations. The lounges offer customers complimentary Wi-Fi and plenty of USB and power points, enabling customers to work, surf online and charge personal devices.

FAMILY TRAVEL

We have a dedicated family check-in zone at our hub at Heathrow Terminal 5, to ensure families have a stress-free experience from the moment they book their flight, through the airport, to when they land in their destination.

As well as sitting families together for free, children have their own free checked luggage allowance, and we invite families to board first. We also offer families the option to bring a pushchair and car seat for free, and little ones can enjoy our complimentary kids meals on long-haul flights. This summer, we launched Paramount+ Kids channel on our inflight entertainment, offering hours of brand-new family friendly content on board.

We also have exclusive Skyflyer Kids Zones and a dedicated kids menu in our lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick. We introduced a new SkyFlyers snack box available to purchase in Euro Traveller and on long-haul flights, and we launched a dedicated Paramount+ Kids channel via our inflight entertainment on board.

TECHNOLOGY

As part of our £7bn transformation programme, we are investing £100m in machine learning, automation and AI across our operation, driving improvements from bookings to baggage handling and helping to revolutionise our operation, speed up departures and respond to disruption.

Innovative new tools are helping to predict delays (prompting pre-emptive action to reduce disruption) and analyse real-time weather, aircraft capacity and customer connections data to help our teams make better long-term decisions. Since the introduction of the systems, alongside a number of new processes and ways of working, we have seen improvements in our on-time departures.

We’re also investing £750million in our IT infrastructure to move 700 systems and thousands of servers to the cloud by early next year.

Our brand-new website and app are on the way. The new website is designed to offer a range of personalisation services, empowering customers to self-service if they wish, taking control of their journeys online. We also recently introduced free Wi-Fi messaging to all Executive Club Members on our WiFi-enabled aircraft across our network, meaning customers can stay connected with the world at 35,000ft.

We are the first airline worldwide to introduce high-tech remote controlled Mototok tug devices to push back aircraft across our short-haul operation, and we are trialling vehicles on our long-haul operation. The machines have reduced push-back delays by more than 70 per cent, greatly improving punctuality for our customers. We are the first commercial operator to deploy the devices across multiple aircraft stands and are now trialling the vehicles across our long-haul flights.

We are also using biometric technology to speed up boarding and arrivals processes in London, Orlando, Los Angeles and New York, with long-haul flights boarding in half the time, and short-haul flights in as little as seven minutes. We are the first and only European airline to use this technology to board international flights out of the US.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Whilst on board, customers can enjoy the latest blockbuster entertainment with over 560 movies, 100 TV boxsets, and 700 pieces of audio content including podcasts and wellbeing music. We also have a dedicated Paramount+ Kids channel for our youngest flyers to enjoy at 35,000ft.

We also offer a range of seasonal content and dedicated channels to suit everyone’s preferences. Most recently, we introduced a range of Indian films and boxsets to celebrate 100 years of flying to India and will be launching a festive channel, featuring Christmas classics, just in time for December.

ONEWORLD

We’re a member of oneworld, along with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and Sri Lankan Airlines. With our partners in the oneworld alliance, we offer a global network of hundreds of destinations, seamless customer service, and shared benefits for frequent flyers.

We have partnered with American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, and Aer Lingus to provide more choices and better deals on flights between Europe and the USA. Additionally, we have collaborated with Japan Airlines, Iberia, and Finnair to offer more options for flights between Europe and Japan. Our partnership with Qatar Airways enhances the choices and connections available for travel between the UK, Doha, and beyond. Furthermore, our cooperation with China Southern Airlines improves choices and connections for travel between the UK and China.

SUSTAINABILITY

Welcome on board our most important journey yet. To find out more about BA Better World, read our latest Sustainability Report and discover how we’re supporting our people while helping to reduce our impact on the environment, click here.

The honor recognizes recent significant investments in our inflight culinary experience

SEATTLE, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines is proud to be named the winner of the 2024 Business Traveler North America Award for Best Inflight Food & Beverage. This recognition celebrates our commitment to elevating the culinary experience with an innovative and thoughtful approach to crafting premium meal and beverage offerings for every guest, regardless of where they sit.

Alaska Airlines is proud to be named the winner of the 2024 Business Traveler North America Award for Best Inflight Food & Beverage.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this award, which reflects our team’s passion for delivering a remarkable travel experience and dedication to offering curated food and beverage products that represent the best of the West Coast,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, vice president of guest products and experience at Alaska Airlines. “This recognition inspires us to continue creating memorable inflight moments with our menus that combine quality, creativity and sustainability. I want to thank our incredible food and beverage team and flight attendants for their dedication and hard work each day, ensuring our guests experience exceptional service and care.”

The awards were determined through a two-step process. A panel of distinguished aviation experts, hospitality leaders and industry editors carefully selected the nominees. The public then cast their votes to determine the winners, highlighting the brands that resonate most with travelers.

“Congratulations to Alaska Airlines for winning this year’s best food and drink award in North America. Their commitment to elevating the inflight dining experience has been truly impressive. By collaborating with rising star Chef Brandon Jew, they’ve brought West Coast flavors to life with Asian-inspired dishes that reflect thoughtful innovation and quality,” said Enrique Perrella, aviation director at Business Traveler. “Complementing these culinary offerings, Alaska’s impressive beverage selection, including the exclusive ‘Cloud Cruiser’ IPA and Best Day Brewing’s non-alcoholic Kölsch, showcases a passion for unique partnerships and fresh ingredients. Alaska Airlines has set a new bar for inflight dining, delivering a memorable experience worthy of this recognition.”

Excellence in On Board Dining 35k feet in the Air

This year, we proudly elevated our inflight dining experience, continuing to set the standard for excellence while staying true to our roots by supporting iconic local West Coast brands. By embracing innovation and pushing boundaries, we introduced bold new offerings that reflect the creativity and quality our guests have come to expect.

A Toast to Innovation: ‘Cloud Cruiser’ Custom Craft Beer : Earlier this year, we unveiled ‘Cloud Cruiser,’ the first-ever custom craft beer brewed for Alaska Airlines by Seattle -based Fremont Brewing. This collaboration brought together two beloved Pacific Northwest brands to craft a refreshingly unique beer. Designed by artists from both Alaska and Fremont Brewing, the distinctive can is only available on board our flights and select Alaska Lounges, offering a true taste of the West Coast.

: Earlier this year, we unveiled ‘Cloud Cruiser,’ the first-ever custom craft beer brewed for Alaska Airlines by -based Fremont Brewing. This collaboration brought together two beloved Pacific Northwest brands to craft a refreshingly unique beer. Designed by artists from both and Fremont Brewing, the distinctive can is only available on board our flights and select Alaska Lounges, offering a true taste of the West Coast. Hot Meals Make a Comeback in the Main Cabin: Our inflight menu continues to outshine the competition by offering more variety than any other U.S. airline. In May, we reintroduced hot meals to Premium Class and the Main Cabin on most flights more than 1,100 miles*. These chef-curated dishes feature premium ingredients, including guest favorites like the Pretzel Roll Sliders with Chips and the flavorful Carnitas Breakfast Bowl.

Our inflight menu continues to outshine the competition by offering more variety than any other U.S. airline. In May, we reintroduced hot meals to Premium Class and the Main Cabin on most flights more than 1,100 miles*. These chef-curated dishes feature premium ingredients, including guest favorites like the Pretzel Roll Sliders with Chips and the flavorful Carnitas Breakfast Bowl. Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Options Take Flight: Expanding on last year’s exciting partnership with Best Day Brewing to offer craft non-alcoholic beer to our onboard menu, we added another innovative choice to our lineup. Starting Nov. 20 , we began serving Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher, a non-alcoholic sparkling water brewed with hops for a crisp, citrusy taste. Available complimentary in First Class and Premium Class, and for purchase in the Main Cabin, this refreshing beverage is the first hoppy water ever offered by a major U.S. airline!

Expanding on last year’s exciting partnership with Best Day Brewing to offer craft non-alcoholic beer to our onboard menu, we added another innovative choice to our lineup. Starting , we began serving Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher, a non-alcoholic sparkling water brewed with hops for a crisp, citrusy taste. Available complimentary in First Class and Premium Class, and for purchase in the Main Cabin, this refreshing beverage is the first hoppy water ever offered by a major U.S. airline! Michelin Star Inspired Meals in the Sky: This summer, we redefined the First Class dining experience with an exciting partnership with Brandon Jew , the acclaimed chef and owner of San Francisco’s Michelin-starred Mister Jiu’s restaurant. Guests traveling between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) can savor a menu inspired by Chef Jew’s mastery of modern Chinese-American cuisines. With Mister Jiu’s maintaining its Michelin star for a seventh consecutive year, this collaboration delivers a world-class dining experience in the sky.

Whether through West Coast-inspired flavors, premium ingredient choices or creative partnerships, we continue to redefine what it means to dine at 35,000 feet. Remember that all our guests, no matter where they sit, can enjoy a premium culinary experience when traveling on Alaska. Along with our freshly prepared food offerings like our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter, our hot meals are only available for pre-order purchase two weeks to 20 hours before your flight. With Alaska Airlines, you can purchase food on most flights over 1,100 miles. You can pre-order hot and fresh meals via the Alaska App or alaskaair.com.

*Hot meal options may not be available on some flights, including redeye flights or where catering is not available

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

SOURCE ALASKA AIRLINES

To arrive at our list of the Best Places to Go in North America and the Caribbean in 2025, we painted with the broadest strokes possible. Quite literally, because these destinations test the physical bounds of the region. From Alberta to Cuba and Denver to Greenland (which, yes, is technically part of North America), we’ve left no possibility unturned. Within this wide geographical stretch, there’s also a diversity of travel inspiration – from nature explorations to food and wine trails and cultural immersions. In Alaska, where the much-loved Glacier Bay National Park celebrates 100 years of being made a national monument, Native-run adventures abound on Kodiak Island, where small groups of visitors can share space with the world’s largest subspecies of brown bear. In Canada’s Banff and Lake Louise, a sprawling new wellness centre at a beloved Canadian Rockies hotel will offer health and vitality alongside dazzling views. Out and away in Greenland, new access to parts previously untrammelled means more visitors can enjoy its majestic fjords and incandescent northern lights from land and sea. If that doesn’t feel soaring enough, there’s Space Coast, Florida, where you can claim your spot to witness historic rocket launches (and sample more earthly adventures like kayaking through its bioluminescent waters). It’s not all space travel and remote landscapes. If you’re drawn to more intimate experiences, perhaps you’ll consider Barbuda: the 62-square-mile gem in the eastern Caribbean Sea will come alive with fresh energy (there’s also a new Nobu Beach Inn arriving) as its airport reopens after the devastation of 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Or maybe Alexander Valley, California – where the establishment of a new wine region is underway – calls out to you, for Cabernet Sauvignons that rival the best of ‘em and gastronomic delights that range from Michelin-star meals to family-style spreads. In the end, whatever catches your fancy, we hope you’ll bookmark this list and use it to plan where you’ll visit in North America and the Caribbean in 2025. See you out there! Arati Menon

The Best Places to Go in North America and the Caribbean in 2024

Alaska

Go for: the 100th anniversary of a beloved cultural tradition; Native-led wildlife viewing

The year 2025 will mark 100 years since the Serum Run that brought lifesaving diphtheria antitoxins from Nenana to Nome – making the commemorative annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race an extra-special, all-Alaskan experience Getty

It’ll be another 34 years before Alaska as a state turns 100 years old. But some of its best-known events and attractions are hitting that milestone in 2025, like the Serum Run, a sled dog relay that brought lifesaving diphtheria antitoxins from Nenana to Nome in 1925. The event has been celebrated annually with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which enthrals visitors and locals who gather along its 1,000-mile course to watch top mushers and their dogs compete. To catch the start of the race, post up at the Wildbirch Hotel, Anchorage’s first new major lodging in 20 years. The boutique stay, with 252 design-forward guest rooms and partnerships with local artists, will open in early 2025 and offer unobstructed views of the Iditarod start line. Also turning 100 is the unrelentingly beautiful Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, filled with rugged mountains, wild coastline, and abundant wildlife. It is the ancestral land of the Huna Tlingit people, who, in recent years, have collaborated with the National Park Service to restore previously suppressed oral histories and cultural traditions. One endeavour was building the Xúnaa Shuká Hít tribal house, the first permanent clan house on these shores since a glacier destroyed villages more than 250 years ago. The Huna people also own nearby Icy Strait Point, one of the most exciting cruise ship destinations in southeast Alaska. Come 2025, it will welcome new sailings, including Princess Cruises’ 22-day Ultimate Alaska Solstice voyage, which will depart from San Francisco in June. The itinerary takes advantage of the 19-plus hours of sunlight available during the summer solstice, giving you that much more time to take in views of Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, the College Fjord, and more. For an on-land adventure with a side of guided bear viewing, head to the Native-owned Kodiak Brown Bear Center on verdant Kodiak Island, where small groups of visitors share space with the largest subspecies of brown bear in the world. In the summer of 2025, KBBC will open a new wellness centre built on a picturesque bluff and offer new, six-day fly-fishing programs on the Karluk River; by evening, guests can retreat to their wood cabins that have views of the lake – after a communal Banya-style steam bath that the Alutiiq people call maqiwik. Notably, Alaska Airlines has ramped up its scheduling in 2024 by adding a daily nonstop to New York alongside its existing service to San Diego, Nashville, and Portland, Oregon, making it easier than ever to get here.

How to plan it: Summer is the best season to visit and travel through Alaska. The Iditarod Race happens in early March, which usually means subzero temps. If you plan ahead, you can jump on a small Chase the Race Adventure flight-seeing plane and follow Iditarod racers to Nome. Flight-seeing tours range from a single-day experience to nine-day-long expeditions that track the entire race from the air, sometimes overnighting in Iditarod checkpoint towns. Anchorage is an excellent base camp for starting this adventure and is the place you’ll return to after watching the race’s finish. Stay at the Wildbirch Hotel, which is slated to open in early 2025, or the Historic Anchorage Hotel that hearkens back to the city’s frontier past. (It’s also famously haunted, which can make for interesting travel stories.) Lisa Maloney

Alexander Valley

Go for: a Sonoma County hidden gem that’s flexing its Bordeaux and Merlots

The meals at Michelin-starred Cyrus spotlight the local harvest – and come with panoramic views of vineyards and undulating hills Olson Kundig/Cyrus Restaurant Vineyard tours and alfresco tastings introduce visitors to Alexander Valley’s highly rated Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays

Tucked into the northern end of Sonoma County, the serene, scenic Alexander Valley has long been home to some of the wine country’s finest Bordeaux varietals. Still, it’s often overlooked in favour of the booming culinary and wine scene of nearby Healdsburg. That’s about to change with the establishment of the Pocket Peak AVA – a wine-growing region within the valley defined by its steep, undulating hills and volcanic and gravelly loam soils – expected in fall 2025. Pocket Peak wines will consist largely of Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons from sought-after producers such as Skipstone Vineyard, Stonestreet, and Devil Proof Vineyards – and these wineries are stepping into the moment with grabby offerings. The private experience at Skipstone, which will debut a sleek new tasting venue in summer 2025, includes a vineyard tour and alfresco tastings of its flagship bottles. Go the whole nine yards and book a stay at the Residence at Skipstone, an 8,344-square-foot bookable manse that sleeps ten and boasts sweeping views of the valley, which opened in 2023. At Stonestreet, guests can book the Stonestreet Mountain Excursion, a guided driving tour of the 5,500-acre estate, including a stop at a 2,400-foot-high vantage point. The dining in the valley is almost as coveted as the wine: Plan ahead and book the 20-course tasting experience at Geyserville’s Michelin-starred Cyrus, which opened in 2023 and where chef Douglas Keane relocates guests to different locations throughout the meal for a “dining journey” across the restaurant’s lounge, kitchen, and chocolate room. The town’s more casual offerings include Diavola, the favourite of local winemakers for its authentic Italian dishes such as spaghettini with pork cheek ragu, and the Wild West-style Geyserville Gun Club for inspired cocktails like the Odd Fellow Manhattan, made with rye, bourbon, and Carpano Antica. Or you could head to Rustic at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, where the acclaimed director shares his personal pantheon of family-style recipes paired with, naturally, wine from the very vineyards you overlook as you tuck into your grilled salmon acqua pazza.

How to plan it: While a two-hour drive from San Francisco’s airport makes Alexander Valley entirely accessible, there are some direct flights from major cities into Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, which is just 20 minutes from Geyserville. The best time of year to visit is late October, when the vineyard leaves turn golden, or February, when crowds are thin. Healdsburg, the well-heeled neighbour of Alexander Valley with excellent restaurants, art galleries, and boutique shopping, is just a five-minute drive from the centre of town and a worthy addition to any itinerary. Book a night at the French-château-inspired Hotel Les Mars for walkable access to shops and dining. Grab a table at Little Saint for its inspired vegan offerings or Roof 106 at the Matheson for the wine country’s best margarita. Katie Kelly Bell

Barbuda

Go for: a much-awaited recovery of a famously paradisiacal island

The postcard-perfect beachfront at Nobu Barbuda, which will be joined in 2025 by a sibling property, the Nobu Beach Inn Nobu Barbuda Fresh seafood is the star attraction on the Japanese-Peruvian menu at the Caribbean outpost of Nobu – don’t miss its black miso cod Nobu Barbuda

Access to beautiful Barbuda is getting easier – the island’s new Burton-Nibbs International Airport opened its doors on October 3, meaning visitors will no longer be reliant on ferries or puddle jumpers to reach this 62-square-mile gem, a tucked-away sliver of paradise that’s historically been far less touristed than its larger sister island of Antigua. Its opening is a sign of recovery (albeit a contentious one) after 2017’s Hurricane Irma devastated Codrington Airport and much of the island of Barbuda. Since then, efforts to increase tourism have hinged on the construction of a new airport. While non-regional flights have yet to be announced, Caribbean airline LIAT relaunched in August, connecting travellers flying between Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, and Barbados. The new airport’s runway was built to accommodate larger aircraft, indicating more routes to come.

American Airlines, still the subject of the ire from the travel advisor community, is upgrading some of its onboard experience with new amenities, new food options, and suite experiences for its flyers.

More than 300 of American’s international and transcontinental flights will get the upgrades starting on Memorial Day weekend. Here’s what’s planned.

New amenities

The first is a new amenity kit that will be available year-round for premium cabin flyers. The kits include some of the classic airplane amenities, including a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask, and ear plugs. American’s will also offer some skincare products that will be cycled regularly—the first will come from Thirteen Lune, a West Hollywood-based, minority-owned beauty company.

In addition to those kits, American will also issue some limited-edition kits throughout the year that will celebrate some of American’s specific milestones or initiatives.

The second is new bedding that American said is specifically inspired by customers who wanted dual-sided pillows, with different materials on each side (cool touch on one side and traditional fabric on the other).

American is also adding a new set of pajamas for its Flagship First Class customers, and new slippers for all of its international flyers in that class (previously only long-haul guests got the slippers).

New dining

American is rolling out new dining offerings that it says will be inspired by the region it is flying to.

Flights to some of its new European summer destinations, including Nice and Naples, for example, will be offered macadamia-crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo, and haricots verts.

It is also adding some new dishes to its business-class customers, including pan-roasted chicken and tortellini pasta. For those flying to Europe on business class, they’ll be able to try a menu that includes chili marinated chicken with mojo verde sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted corn, and mini chili along with gnocchi duet with plain and beetroot gnocchi.

American’s domestic first class is also getting new menu items including shawarma seasoned grilled chicken, three cheese sacchetti pasta, chicken enchiladas, or a plant-based stuffed red pepper.

New suite experiences

One of the biggest changes for American this year is a new Flagship Suite with a closing door that will be offered on its new Boeing 787-9, 777-300, and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Those suites include lie-flat seats, direct aisle access for all, wireless charging, multiple storage spaces, and more.

American is also bringing that wireless charging and storage space to Premium Economy. At the same time, those in Mani Cabin will get new 4K seatback screens and new Bluetooth connectivity, and AC and USB-A/USB-C charging ports.

American Airlines is launching an exciting array of in-flight products this summer, from luxury amenity kits and stylish bedding to inspired dining options, enhanced seating, and the carrier’s all-new Flagship Suite.

The nation’s largest airline has partnered with an eclectic mix of boutique designers and famous brands to develop a program featuring a rotating collection of amenity kit designs, high-quality skincare products, and cozy bedding and sleepwear.

New American Airlines Premium Amenities

Starting Memorial Day weekend, travelers flying with American Airlines in Flagship First Class, Flagship Business Class, and Premium Economy will be welcomed with the first set of premium amenity kits.

The new kits will include all the essentials that frequent flyers have come to expect, including a toothbrush and dental kit, an eye mask and earplugs, and an evolving range of exclusive skincare products made in collaboration with online beauty retailer Thirteen Lune.

Within the kits, new products from different brands will be cycled between all premium cabins based on customer feedback to create a unique passenger experience each time they fly.

The diverse range of brands and designers selected to create the kits are primarily based in the U.S. and will work with American Airlines to develop designs that celebrate the milestones, values, and backgrounds of the carrier’s customers and employees.

Each limited-edition kit will feature a QR code that passengers can scan to learn more about the brand partner behind its design, starting with Thirteen Lune.

Passengers can also expect to fly in added comfort in the coming months thanks to the airline’s new range of bedding and sleepwear kits. The design of the new pillows and pajamas is inspired by direct customer feedback, with the airline finding that 75 percent of its passengers dual-sided pillows and 80 percent of first class travelers value onboard pajamas.

Based on this, First and Business Class passengers will be provided with pillows with different comforting materials on each side. In contrast, First Class international passengers will continue to receive pajamas, and all Business Class international passengers will enjoy onboard slippers instead of just those on ultra-long-haul flights.

Premium Economy and Main Cabin passengers haven’t been forgotten either; they can look forward to receiving enhanced bedding products developed by premium brands, including lumbar pillows, throw blankets, fleece blankets, and premium duvets.

American Airlines partnered with in-flight textile firm John Horsfall to create bedding products, almost all made with recycled materials.

Premium passengers will also receive their bedding kits in reusable zipper bags made from recycled fibers, which American Airlines will help to save 25 tons of plastic waste each year.

Inflight Dining Upgrades

Meanwhile, a new range of in-flight dining options will feature diverse flavors and dishes inspired by American Airlines’ long list of international destinations.

Highlights include macadamia-crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo, and haricot verts on flights to the airline’s new summer destinations, including Nice (NCE), Naples (NAP), and Copenhagen (CPH), and a chili marinated chicken dish with mojo verde sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted corn and mini chili for Business Class passengers to other European destinations.

First Class passengers on domestic flights will also enjoy new dishes such as shawarma seasoned grilled chicken, three cheese Sacchetti pasta, chicken enchiladas, and plant-based stuffed red pepper, while new pre-order options include short rib mac and cheese.

Unveiling Flagship Suite

Finally, American Airlines passengers can look forward to an enhanced cabin experience onboard the carrier’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Airbus A321XLR aircraft, and refurbished 777-300ER wide-body jets.

The new Flagship Suite seats will all include privacy doors, lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, chaise lounge position settings, and premium standards such as wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and generous storage spaces.

Passengers will also have the choice of extra luxury with the Flagship Suite Preferred seat on the Boeing 787-9 and retrofitted 777-300 aircraft, with the front-row experience offering additional space, numerous storage areas, and exclusive amenities such as a Nest Bedding mattress pad and a memory foam lumbar pillow.

The new interiors will also include wireless charging, additional storage, and privacy headrest wings for Premium Economy passengers, along with new 4K seatback screens, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB-A/USB-C charging ports in the Main Cabin.

“We thoughtfully curate each element of the onboard experience so every customer can look forward to the time they spend in flight,” said Kim Cisek, Vice President of Customer Experience at American Airlines.

“Part of the magic of travel is connecting our customers to the people and experiences that matter most to them. We’re taking that concept to the skies by introducing a new, dynamic onboard program that’s inspired by feedback from our customers and team members.”