Ljubljana, Vienna and Porto: Check Out Next Summer's New Europe Flights — WSJ
By Dawn Gilbertson
Happy Friday! I'm back from the gloriously gloomy Oregon coast and can't recommend a trip to the Yachats/Waldport area enough if you like to have a beach to yourself.
In travel news, hundreds of foreign tourists are missing following tsunami-like floods on the Nepal-China border. The images coming out of the region are heartbreaking.
In airline safety news, the FAA found that LaGuardia air-traffic controllers left work early before a deadly collision earlier this year.
JetBlue Airways opened its second airport lounge. The new BlueHouse is in Terminal C at Boston's Logan International Airport. Who gets in for free? JetBlue fliers with the airline's top status, travelers booking its pricey Mint tickets and those with the airline's premium credit card.
Disney Cruise Line announced its return to New York City, albeit for a limited number of sailings in fall 2027. The Disney Wish, which will be based in Europe next summer, will offer seven sailings, five to Bermuda and two to New England and Canada.
Michelin is back rating restaurants in Las Vegas for the first time in nearly two decades. Four walked away with stars this week: Joel Robuchon (two stars) and, with one star each, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace and E' by Jose Andres at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. Too fancy for your taste? Check out Michelin's new guide to the most affordable restaurants in the American Southwest, also released this week.
Finally, here's a petition we can all get behind: renaming the Nashville airport to Dolly Parton International Airport.
New airline routes for summer 2027
It's not too early to start thinking about your summer 2027 travel plans, and airlines are teeing up some exciting new routes to spark inspiration.
United, Delta, American and Alaska have all announced new Europe routes this month.
United, as always, made the biggest splash, announcing 10 new international destinations this week. I was thrilled to see Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, on the list.
My daughter and I visited in April and I haven't stopped raving about the place. United will offer nonstop service from Newark, becoming the first U.S. airline to do so. (I flew Air France from Phoenix to Paris and connected there.)
CEO Scott Kirby told me it's at the top of his personal list of new places to visit after the service starts. This on a list of new destinations including Luxembourg; Ibiza; Marseille, France; Terceira, Portugal; and Olbia and Catania in Italy.
American Airlines this week announced seven new international routes, including nonstop flights to Vienna and Porto, Portugal, from its Philadelphia hub. It will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop flights to Vienna.
Add in Alaska Airlines' new nonstop flights from Seattle to Athens and Paris and Delta's plans to fly nonstop between Austin, Texas, and Paris, and you've got a stellar summer 2027 lineup.
This is an edition of the WSJ Travel newsletter, a weekly source of inspiration and advice for navigating your vacations and business trips, along with the latest travel news. If you're not subscribed, sign up here.
Notes From the Road ??
The harlequins of the sea: Maine visitors can't get enough of puffin cruises.
Planning a grand tour of Italy? Genoa is full of surprises, with an eccentric charm that inspires exploration.
Marmots are terrorizing California hikers and stealing their shoes.
Don't waste those PTO days. Vacations have surprising mental-health benefits.
My apologies for the incorrect link in last week's newsletter: Plan a trip to Portugal's chicest beach destination before it's overrun with tourists.
One Good Tip 🎯
Did you know Amtrak offers discounts on late night and early morning trains in coach on the Northeast corridor? The Night Owl fares cover select trains departing from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. in cities between Washington, D.C. and Boston. You can even combine them with the 15% student discount.
Travel Math 🧮
The average number of daily passengers United Airlines expects to carry over the Labor Day holiday, which it defines as Thursday, Sept. 3 through Tuesday, Sept. 8. Friday and Monday, of course, will be the busiest.
And We Quote 💬
You Have Thoughts 🤔
...on solo travel after the death of a spouse.
"Enjoyed your piece on solo travel and it brought to mind a nice option I happened upon. My wife passed away last November. I am a huge Disney fan, in a retirement community in North Carolina. I met a retired couple here who happened to mention they had gone to Disney World on their honeymoon in 1973 and nearly 20 times since. When they found out I was a Disney geek, they said, 'You don't want to go to Disney alone, come go with us.' We are headed there in late September. They've made all the plans including room and dining reservations. I guess this is sort of a 'hybrid-solo' situation. I'm really looking forward to it, and doubt I would have gone otherwise." -George McCall, North Carolina
(Responses have been condensed and edited.)
Cheers and Jeers 🤷
Cheers to the Eugene, Ore., airport for offering a free short story dispenser in conjunction with the Eugene Public Library. It spits out stories for kids or adults on a CVS-length receipt. The children's literature choice last week when I landed: "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer.
Jeers to airlines who browbeat passengers into checking their carry-on bags at the gate, with agents threatening a possible delayed departure if enough travelers don't give up their bags. The carry-on mess is on airlines to figure out, not passengers.
About Us
Dawn Gilbertson writes WSJ's Carry On column covering all things travel. You can reach her at dawn.gilbertson@wsj.com or on X at @dawngilbertson. Sign up to get an alert every time Dawn publishes an article.