February 2025 Travel News

February 2025 Travel News

In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh discuss the latest travel news for February 2025.

Airline News

• American Airlines will begin flying from Chicago to Honolulu in October 2026 on a Boeing 787-8, its longest domestic route. (https://www.travelandleisure.com/american-airlines-chicago-honolulu-11683485)

• Direct flights from New York to Puglia, Italy will start in June on Nios Airlines (https://www.travelandleisure.com/neos-airlines-puglia-jfk-bari-8786338)

• Southwest's partnership with Icelandair allows booking Southwest flights to Europe (https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-icelandair-partnership-how-to-book/)

• Spirit Rejects Frontier's Merger Bid Again (https://thepointsguy.com/news/spirit-airlines-rejects-frontier-merger-proposal/)

• The cheapest airports to fly to in the US (https://www.travelandleisure.com/cheapest-most-expensive-airports-government-data-8787606)

Cruise News

• Royal Caribbean will homeport in San Diego for the first time in over a decade (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2025/02/13/royal-caribbean-cruises-san-diego-california/78517781007/)

• Celebrity Cruises announces plans to enter the European river cruise market (https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/celebrity-cruises-announces-its-getting-into-small-boat-european-river-cruising/)

Other News

• Uber will start showing fares in travelers' home currencies rather than local currencies, adding a convenience fee (https://www.frommers.com/tips/money-and-currency/should-travelers-make-credit-card-purchases-in-their-home-currency-the-lesson-of-ubers-dirty-trick/)

• National Park Service Layoffs will affect Summer travel (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2025/02/25/national-park-service-layoffs-what-to-know/80234977007/)

• World's Tallest Roller Coaster Coming Down (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2025/02/21/kingda-ka-demolition-six-flags-great-adventure/79413031007/)

• Paris to Milan Train Reopens (https://www.travelandleisure.com/direct-train-connecting-paris-milan-is-finally-back-11678615)
• Increased Fee to Climb Mount Everest (https://www.cnn.com/travel/nepal-increases-mount-everest-climbing-fee-2025-intl-hnk/index.html)

Wine Break

Christopher and Ashleigh try a Marquette Reserve red wine from Burgdorf's winery in Michigan. They discuss hybrid wine grapes like Marquette that are crosses between American and European grape varieties.