Kimpton wasn’t the same since IHG took over, cynics would jeer. The late Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson even admitted partnering with nightlife and hotel legend Ian Schrager on Edition Hotels partially because “If we opened exactly the same box without Ian … Would we have gotten the same reception from the market? I think the answer is no.”

It’s because of this that I always viewed IHG’s takeover of Six Senses and Regent with a bit of skepticism. IHG needed the ultraluxury additions to its brand lineup, but would this boost to IHG mean a weakening in luxury status for the two takeover targets?

After visiting three Regent properties over the last month, it certainly seems to be a new day for luxury and lifestyle over at IHG — one that indicates the hotel giant is more than capable of running ultraluxury brands. That poses a major threat to IHG competitors like Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton and Hyatt.

“Luxury and lifestyle brands are a strategic focus for us,” said Tom Rowntree, IHG’s vice president of global luxury and lifestyle brands, at the Regent Hong Kong last month. “Part of that is important from a loyalty perspective. We have a customer base seeking that. We have our loyalty members wanting us to have these aspirational brands within our offering.”

“What I’m really excited about is, up until about 2015, InterContinental was our only luxury brand,” he said. “What we have done is we built out a portfolio of five very distinct brands.”

Kimpton, the Vignette Collection, Six Senses and Regent have all been added since then.

What’s in store for Regent under IHG’s influence

The last two years delivered the first batch of Regent hotels where IHG was essentially involved from the start of development: Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Regent Hong Kong and Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, in southern France. An additional hotel, Regent Santa Monica Beach in Southern California, is slated to open next year.

Jane Mackie — senior vice president of luxury, lifestyle and premium brands at IHG — told TPG at the International Luxury Travel Market conference in Cannes earlier this month that the vibe of a Regent hotel is meant to be 50% serenity, 40% unexpected harmony and 10% decadence.

“The decadence can be played up however a hotel wants,” Mackie said while giving property-specific experiential offerings as an example. “We don’t apologize for decadence. It’s giving the hotels permission to amp that up.”

The hotels follow brand standards and mantras like “personal haven,” meant to provide spacious rooms that are supposed to be retreats you actually want to hang out in all day instead of just a place to sleep and shower. Guest rooms in Hong Kong and Cannes showcase incredible waterfront views with daybeds in front of the windows.

In Phu Quoc, most villas and suites feature private pools while all come with ample living and entertaining space. Regent Phu Quoc also got particularly high marks for its highly attentive staff, delicious food offerings at restaurants like Oku, a Japanese-French omakase venue, and Rice Market, home to a palatial buffet featuring everything from dumplings and banh mi to fresh-squeezed juices and pastries.

While Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai outside Hoi An is a TPG staff favorite, it’s easy to see the Regent Phu Quoc quickly attaining a similar lofty perch — especially as Phu Quoc’s airport gets more service beyond discount air carriers.

Regent’s “With Compliments” brand standard provides extras like complimentary snacks and drinks from the hotel minibar. IHG also rolled out experiential offerings like “Taste Studio” that are meant to attract a following from travelers who book a stay around a specific event.

During my stay at Regent Phu Quoc, this was displayed in the form of an art-inspired dinner with video projections across the table (adding an immersive layer to courses of lobster and marbled steak) and a musical performance by the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

“The way that we built the brand is so that it flexes and comes alive in its own unique way,” Rowntree said.

Why other brands should be worried

It wasn’t too long ago when IHG wasn’t seen in the same luxury and lifestyle category as its competitors like Marriott or Hyatt. The company reportedly lost out on an attempt to acquire Starwood before Marriott swooped in at the end of 2015.

But today, it seems like IHG has an enviable position. Its rapid ascent in the ultraluxury and lifestyle space includes the launch of new brands like the Vignette Collection and the addition of brands with smaller footprints like Regent that don’t have as much product inconsistency as, say, St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton, where our readers and reporters have found amazing hotels but also ones that that need a little refresh and renovation.

“If you want to be perceived as the best, you can’t have a lot, and you have to really hold them to the highest standards,” Mackie said of IHG’s outlook on ultraluxury.

IHG isn’t immune from brand inconsistency problems, either. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts similarly has its mix of shining stars and properties in need of a little TLC. The company acknowledged this earlier this year by announcing a brand revamp for InterContinental.

But even that can be seen as a sign that IHG is taking its luxury push seriously.

As a six-time winner of “Most Improved Player” trophies over the span of my childhood Little League career, I know that label can be seen as an insult.

But in the case of IHG and its luxury division, it’s a worthy distinction anyone should be happy to receive. The initial batch of IHG-influenced Regent Hotels & Resorts proves just that.

Related reading:

• The award travelers guide to IHG Rewards
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
• Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

We always hope your travel will be trouble-free, especially at Christmas and New Year’s. However, there are several strikes and other disruptions to look out for across Europe in the coming weeks.

If you plan to travel during these dates and need advice, read our guide to insurance policies and strike coverage. Additionally, find out what you may be entitled to in terms of compensation if your flight is delayed or otherwise affected.

Here are European strikes to be aware of.

Related: The best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance — and what it actually covers

Public transport strike in Northern Ireland

When: Dec. 22

Public transportation workers across Northern Ireland will strike Dec. 22 in protest over a proposed pay freeze. The walkouts will affect both buses and trains throughout Northern Ireland. The strikes are a continuation of two earlier strikes this month, which took place Dec. 15 and 16.

Iberia ground service staff strikes in Spain

When: Dec. 29-Jan. 1 and Jan. 4-7

Disrupting the travels of those looking to spend the festive season in Spain, Iberia ground service staff members will go on strike during the holiday period from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 and then again Jan. 4 to 7.

The strikes will affect all Spanish airports where Iberia operates, including Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), Seville Airport (SVQ) and Valencia Airport (VLC). They could also affect other flight carriers operating within the IAG group, including British Airways, Aer Lingus and Vueling.

Security staff strikes in Alicante, Spain

When: Dec. 19 and 22-31; Jan. 1-14

Security staff members employed by Ilunion Seguridad will carry out “partial stoppages” in work from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m. on each listed day over disputes involving pay and work conditions.

Potential train strikes in Germany

When: From Jan. 7

Members of the German Train Drivers’ Union had planned to strike during the Christmas period over a dispute with train operator Deutsche Bahn over pay.

Strikes during the Christmas period appear to have been averted, but it’s not all good news. The union has instead voted unanimously to strike across an indefinite period until it achieves successful negotiations with Deutsche Bahn. While firm dates of the next strikes are yet to be announced, they are expected to begin after Jan. 7 in the new year.

Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t

Bottom line

One thing worth remembering about strikes is that nothing is certain, and it’s always possible that unions and employers will reach a deal.

However, the current economic crisis is making things difficult for everyone. Workers are struggling through the deepening cost-of-living crisis, and travel companies are desperate to appease shareholders during the coronavirus pandemic. The pressures on both sides of the fence seem unlikely to evaporate anytime soon.

The chances of more strikes are high across the travel sector. Keep an eye on these dates and plan accordingly.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or an expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

And as a bonus, to really kick off the new year, IHG One Rewards members living in the United States who register for this promotion will automatically be enrolled in an additional promotion offer. Members will receive an additional 2,000 bonus points after staying at two or more IHG brands throughout the month of January.

You must register for this promotion before checking out from your first stay; here’s what you need to know.

Related: The 19 best IHG hotels in the world

IHG One Rewards January 2024 promotion details

This IHG One Rewards promotion is relatively straightforward: All registered members will earn double bonus points for stays between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31. If you register for the promotion and reside in the U.S., you will automatically be registered for the “2K Brand Offer.” For this promotion, members will earn an additional 2,000 bonus points when completing stays at two or more IHG brands within the promotional period. The additional 2,000 bonus points will only be awarded one time.

Once you register, you’ll get a confirmation email titled “You are now registered for 2X points on every stay.”

Remember, members must register for this promotion before completing their stay; you can currently preregister for the IHG promotion, which we recommend doing so you don’t forget. The terms and conditions for this promotion define an eligible stay as “one (1) night stay at a participating hotel booked under a Qualifying Rate, with total spend exceeding US $30 (or local currency equivalent) for each night.”

If you book your stay using reward nights, points and cash or through a third-party booking agency such as Booking.com or Expedia.com, these will not qualify under the promotion’s guidelines.

In addition to IHG’s 2024 promotion, the hotel’s current deal is still active.

IHG One Rewards December 2023 promotion details

Members can earn 2,000 points for every two nights of eligible paid stays completed between Oct. 12 and Dec. 31. Plus, IHG is automatically enrolling members who register and have an eligible IHG credit card in an extra promotional offer for an additional 2,000 bonus points for every two nights.

The nights do not have to be part of the same stay to count. Preregistration for this promotion opened Sept. 27, so you may have already registered. But you must register for this promotion before checking out from your first eligible stay; here’s the link to register.

Plus, cardholders of select IHG credit cards — including the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG One  Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Select credit card — will be automatically enrolled in an extra promotion to earn an additional 2,000 bonus points for every two eligible nights stayed.

You’ll get an email titled “Surprise: You’ll be earning even more on stays” after you enroll in the promotion if you are eligible for the additional bonus points.

However, if you redeem IHG points, use an IHG anniversary night or book a points-and-cash stay, you won’t benefit from this promotion. And if you book more than one room on the same night, you’ll only receive bonus points for one room.

Related: How much value does IHG One Rewards status provide when you book directly?

Bottom line

IHG’s newest promotion allows you to earn a good amount of bonus points in 2024; however, the promotional period is only for the month of January, which is definitely limiting for those who don’t have flexible travel schedules. But if you can stay at an IHG hotel, combining this promotion with bonuses from elite status and an IHG credit card is a great way to earn IHG points on paid stays. IHG members earn 10 base points per dollar spent at most IHG brands, and IHG elite members get bonus points based on their status tier.

I recommend registering now, even if you don’t have any upcoming IHG stays planned.

You may hope to earn status for the first time this year or chase a higher status tier. If you’re in that boat, you might be planning to get there through organic travel or are even considering a last-minute mattress run.

It’s often much easier to qualify for elite status with hotels than with airlines because award stays at major chains count towards hotel elite status.

However, if you risk falling a night short in earning status in 2023, do hotel stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 count toward earning status this year or next? TPG reader Hailey asks:

After accounting for all my work travel I’m going to be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay over New Year’s Eve, would that count towards 2023 (when I check in) or 2024 (when I check out)?

Earning elite credits on New Year’s Eve stays

The short answer is that the four major hotel chains, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG, all credit stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to the previous year.

That means if Hailey books a one-night stay over New Year’s, it will push her over the threshold to earn Marriott Platinum elite status for 2024.

Things start to get a little more confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay, for example, checking in Dec. 31 and checking out Jan. 3. Representatives from the three major hotel chains have shared with us that the official policy is that the nights would split — so the night of Dec. 31 would count toward Hailey’s 2023 qualification year.

The subsequent nights in January would count toward her 2024 qualification year.

A Hyatt agent we spoke to said that the default setting is for all nights to post to 2023, but if you call in, they have a process to adjust it manually.

Meanwhile, a Marriott agent explained that the nights would automatically split.

How to earn elite hotel status with a credit card

With the right credit card, you won’t need to worry about squeezing in an elite night on New Year’s Eve to earn elite status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status for all cardmembers. Alternatively, if you have both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’ll get 30 elite night credits just for holding these cards, more than half of the elite nights needed for Bonvoy Platinum status.

If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’ll automatically get five tier-qualifying nights yearly. You’ll also earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt Credit Card. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card provides five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

If you prefer Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status if you have the card open.

The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Finally, IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a cardholder perk of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

If you hold the United Club Infinite Card, you can also register for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.

Bottom line

It’s risky to leave requalifying for status until the very last day possible, especially given how big of a gap there is in benefits between Marriott Gold and Marriott Platinum status.

That being said, Hailey will be able to earn her last elite qualifying night on Dec. 31, even if her stay stretches into January of the following year.

If you plan on using New Year’s travel to qualify for hotel elite status, keep an eye on your account for the first week of January to ensure your stay credits the way you expect it to.

Processing times for new passports and those being renewed are now estimated at six to eight weeks for routine service. For expedited service, which costs an extra $60, wait times are an estimated two to three weeks.

The announcement comes as welcome news for travelers, with longer wait times the norm over the nearly four years since the pandemic began.

“With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020,” the Department of State said in a statement Tuesday.

When faced with unprecedented passport demand in 2023, we set a goal to get back to pre-pandemic processing times before the end of the year. We’re happy to report that we’ve met that goal. Passport processing times are now 6-8 weeks for routine processing & 2-3 weeks for… pic.twitter.com/oJc9dxjU1D

— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) December 18, 2023

A tumultuous four years

Passport processing times first spiked in early 2020 as workers stayed home at the outset of the pandemic, leading to monthslong delays in many cases.

I, for one, sent my expiring passport in for renewal in February 2020, just days before COVID-19 began to significantly affect our daily lives. I didn’t receive a new passport until July 2020 — about five months later.

Then, after the initial backlog created by the pandemic, two key factors came into play: First, as travel began to bounce back, many Americans realized their passport had expired while international travel was largely on hold — leading to an influx of applications.

Then there’s the fact that domestic and international travel has boomed over the last couple of years, creating a crush of demand for new passports that was difficult for the State Department to efficiently field.

As recently as this fall, average wait times were estimated at eight to 11 weeks or more.

The State Department processed a record 22 million passports and passport books in the 2022 fiscal year and beat that in fiscal year 2023 with 24 million as part of a wave of “unprecedented” demand.

That demand for international travel — in the wake of pandemic backlogs — has similarly contributed to long wait times for Global Entry applicants to land an interview for the expedited passport control program; it continues to set new membership records. (Global Entry interview wait times, though, remain at an average of four to six months, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.)

Growing interest in international travel

The tens of millions of passports processed in recent years also speaks to the growing number of Americans interested in traveling abroad, government officials said.

In 1990, just 5% of Americans had a passport, the State Department said. Today, it’s 48%. The 160 million active U.S. passports in circulation are double the number seen in 2007, just 16 years ago.

Now, though, travelers can expect renewal times on par with those of 2019 and earlier.

Bottom line

If you’re thinking of renewing your passport, you should still take action at least six months before your current one expires. However, with wait times more normalized, some travelers may feel more comfortable opting for routine service instead of paying $60 for expedited processing.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

If you luckily snagged tickets, plan on using some of your holiday money to book your European hotel sooner rather than later — or run the risk of it being a “Cruel Summer” with no place to stay.

Hotels in Edinburgh are already 70% booked for June 7 and 8, the first two nights Swift performs at the city’s Murrayfield Stadium, according to forward-looking data from hotel industry research provider STR. Occupancy levels dip to 53% on June 9, the final night of Swift’s Edinburgh tour arc.

Occupancy rates already exceed 50% on the tour dates of other U.K. cities like Cardiff on June 18 and Liverpool on June 13 and 14. Occupancy rates are approaching 50% in Dublin for all three nights of Swift’s tour stop at the Irish capital’s Aviva Stadium.

“If you look at the U.K. market, especially the regional U.K. market, those seem to have the higher occupancy rates during the concert dates, and that is definitely the Taylor Swift effect,” Cristina Balekjian, a U.K.-based director of hospitality analytics at STR’s parent company CoStar Group, said.

Swift’s Aug. 1-3 tour dates (where booked occupancy ranges from 31% to 38%) in Warsaw, Poland, are the only dates for 2024 where the city has hotel bookings above the 20% occupancy threshold.

But don’t let occupancy rates do all the talking. Average daily rates are already sky-high in certain European cities Swift passes through next summer.

Most Marriott and Hilton-affiliated hotels in popular neighborhoods in Paris for Swift’s opening night at Paris La Defense Arena on May 9 start at $300 and climb higher. Rates at Hyatt-affiliated hotels start at $400 in central London and quickly move higher on the dates Swift performs at Wembley Stadium.

“Our hotels have seen huge surges in demand and [average daily rates] during Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ with a city’s [hotel performance] nearly doubling during her concert dates,” Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano said earlier this year during a company securities analyst meeting. “Customers want to be at these events and enjoy these experiences in person.”

The Taylor Swift model for hotels

It’s still too far out to gauge if rates will remain this high. However, it’s certainly not good news for one’s wallet that hotel companies are already trying to see if they can get travelers to spend this much on a hotel room when Swift is in town alongside throngs of summer leisure travelers.

“The Taylor Swift model is absolutely factored in. It’s the new line item in revenue management,” Dimitris Manikis — Wyndham’s president of Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa — said. “How do we actually maximize it? It was always sports events, but now it’s not just sports anymore. It’s everything. Airlines are now factoring it. Cities are factoring it.”

The spike in demand comes as consumers increasingly favor experiences over physical goods — something that has been a major tailwind to travel companies looking to capitalize on the trend. It just makes nightly rates and airfare more expensive in the process.

“These high-profile events have a major effect on hotel demand. Concerts have become a lot more popular, and people really try to do those once-in-a-lifetime things that really make an impact on their life,” Balekjian said.

Swift’s seismic impact on travel

Take the U.S. as both bragging rights for the Swiftie (what Swift fans call themselves) economy and a cautionary tale for how much you’ll need to shell out for a European hotel next summer.

A QuestionPro report over the summer estimated “The Eras Tour” had a $5 billion direct impact on the collective economies of the 20 different city stops in the U.S. — that includes everything from travel expenses to dining and merchandise sales.

But the U.S. Travel Association reported in September that the total economic impact of the tour likely exceeded $10 billion; this is thanks to indirect spending from people who still visited the cities during a Swift concert date but didn’t actually attend the concert itself. Just look at all the videos of thousands of fans showing up to listen from a stadium parking lot while the actual concert took place inside a sold-out venue.

A single Swiftie averaged $1,300 in direct spending for each concert date. That’s on par with per-person spending levels seen for a Super Bowl, according to U.S. Travel. Multiply that by 53 different concert dates, and you suddenly can see why “The Eras Tour” fueled the economy so much over the summer.

When Swift made her two-night stop in Pittsburgh, hotels averaged a 95% occupancy rate, the highest figure seen since before the pandemic and the second-highest city-wide occupancy rate in recorded history, U.S. Travel reports. Pittsburgh hotels also commanded a $309 average nightly rate, a 106% increase in the typical going rate for a hotel in the city.

Average rates jumped 51% in Nashville when Swift performed in early May. Boston hotel rates surged 28% when Swift performed outside the city at Gillette Stadium.

If the U.S. is a canary down the coal mine for what travelers heading to Europe next summer should expect, it’s that rates will be higher than you’d expect — even for peak travel season across the region.

Lock in rates now or consider deploying your award nights and points to save money. You can use the savings at the merch stand.

Related reading:

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• When is the best time to book a hotel? Experts weigh in — and debunk a few myths
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
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The Seattle-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to cut its two longest routes from Boise Airport (BOI), as first seen in Cirum schedules.

Alaska will end service from Boise to Chicago on Jan. 7, 2024, followed by flights to Austin this summer. The carrier confirmed the cuts to TPG with the following statement:

“We’re always looking for the best ways to maximize our flight schedule. Occasionally, we need to make adjustments, including in Boise… In 2024, we hope to further connect Boise to destinations throughout the West.”

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Without these two routes, Alaska will offer about 30 peak daily flights from Boise to destinations across the West, including Las Vegas, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. You can find the full map of Alaska’s Boise network for July 2024 in the map below.

Boise is one of Alaska’s focus cities — not necessarily big enough to be considered a hub, but a strategic position the airline wants to maintain. Boise’s second-largest airline, Delta Air Lines, operates about 18 peak daily flights; this makes Alaska the market leader for locals and visitors heading to the Idaho city.

Over the years, Alaska has grown its operation in Boise with new routes to cities like Los Angeles and Missoula, Montana. The airline started service to Austin and Chicago on June 17, 2021, as part of a mid-pandemic growth spurt for the city.

These two flights represented the airline’s longest from the city and a new direction — eastward — for the airline’s route map from Boise. These longer flights might’ve been a bit more expensive to operate, and without a full recovery in business travel, Alaska doesn’t seem to think they’re commercially feasible any longer.

Bargain mode: How to save hundreds on flights with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare 

In fact, service to Austin and Chicago doesn’t really fit into the carrier’s recent network strategy of boosting service on longer leisure flights. During the past few earnings calls, executives at Alaska have shared that the airline will shift its focus from business routes, like Seattle to New York, to leisure-focused flights, such as the new service from Seattle and Los Angeles to Nassau, Bahamas.

These two Boise cuts touch Austin and Chicago, two markets with a plethora of business travelers.

Without the Alaska flights, Boise will remain connected to Chicago thanks to United Express. Meanwhile, flyers heading to Austin will need to book one-stop connections through nearby hubs.

As for what’s next for Alaska’s Boise focus city, expect more routes to destinations throughout the West launching next year.

Related reading:

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The Atlanta-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to introduce an all-new configuration for the Airbus A350-900 jet, as first spotted by Ben Bearup on X (formerly Twitter).

The new configuration, which is reportedly being called the “35H,” will feature 40 Delta One Suites, 40 Premium Select recliners, 36 Comfort+ extra-legroom seats and 159 standard economy seats.

There will be two rows of a new Delta One “mini-cabin” with room for eight total passengers. Depending on the exact details of the layout, this might be the most private mix of product and cabin location offered by any U.S. airline.

In total, the new configuration represents a net reduction of 31 seats compared to the current “flagship” configuration on Delta’s A350. You can find the full cabin-by-cabin breakdown of the new configuration in the table below.

A Delta spokesperson confirmed the plans to TPG but declined to share any additional details about the new LOPA, or layout of passenger accommodations. The carrier wouldn’t share more about the configuration nor confirm how many jets will be outfitted in this new premium-heavy layout.

This new A350 configuration is slated to take off on Delta’s flights to South Africa this summer, beginning on June 1, 2024.

Some aviation observers think Delta is adding more business-class suites on the A350 to increase the jet’s payload on flights from Johannesburg.

The airport’s altitude of nearly 6,000 feet above sea level means that Delta’s 8,439-mile ultra-long-haul mission to Atlanta sometimes suffers from weight restrictions due to the reduced takeoff performance at high altitudes.

By reducing the number of seats on the aircraft, the airline may be able to avoid these weight restrictions that might be harming the route’s profitability.

Of course, it’s also possible that Delta is trying to grow the footprint of its business-class cabin, which commands a much higher revenue premium than any other cabin on the A350. With business class often selling for much more than Premium Select, the airline can sometimes make more money selling a single suite than it does two or three (or more) premium economy recliners.

Interestingly, Delta’s business-class footprint on the A350 pales in comparison to American Airlines and United Airlines on their flagship jets. The latter two carriers operate the Boeing 777-300ER as their flagship jet, and they outfit the jet with 52 and 60 business-class seats, respectively.

Until the introduction of this new configuration, Delta’s A350 cabins were about 50% smaller than its two big competitors. As Delta (and the larger industry) keeps doubling down on premium traffic, the shift to a bigger business-class cabin might make sense.

While this new configuration will be one of Delta’s most premium ones yet, it’s interesting that the airline hasn’t announced a retrofit program for its “35L” subfleet of A350s.

Delta inherited this configuration when it took delivery of A350s that originally flew for LATAM. Business class is arranged in an outdated 2-2-2 layout, and these planes don’t feature a Premium Select cabin.

The airline has been busy installing Viasat internet radomes on these planes, but it stopped short of introducing its signature cabins onboard.

These ex-LATAM A350s are primarily deployed to leisure-heavy markets, where the outdated business-class configuration might not bother some of the most price-sensitive premium-cabin flyers.

Related reading:

• Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program
• Best Delta credit cards
• What is Delta Air Lines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status in 2023
• How to survive basic economy on Delta Air Lines

The two carriers announced in June the start of a so-called strategic partnership, and now, nearly six months later, the airlines have unveiled the full suite of perks and codeshares that flyers can expect.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the two airlines will kick off a codeshare agreement on all flights between the U.S. and Israel. This means you’ll be able to purchase El Al flights to Israel via Delta and vice versa.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

You’ll also be able to combine an El Al long-haul flight with a domestic Delta ticket to destinations beyond El Al’s U.S. gateways. If you book one of these connections, you’ll receive your boarding pass for the entire trip and have your bags checked all the way through to your final destination.

Delta SkyMiles members will be able to earn miles for all eligible El Al flights, but the earning charts aren’t live yet.

El Al’s Matmid frequent flyers can also earn miles and elite qualifying credit for Delta flights, with the full details available on this dedicated website.

The same is true for mileage redemptions: Matmid members will be able to make one-way and round-trip mileage redemptions on Delta flights with a distance-based award chart shown below.

Unfortunately, for most U.S.-based travelers, accruing Matmid points is quite hard — the program doesn’t have a credit card transfer partner anymore — so these redemptions might not offer much utility.

That said, Delta SkyMiles members will also have access to booking El Al awards; however, since the airline doesn’t publish award charts (and award flights haven’t been loaded to the Delta website yet), there’s no telling how high the pricing might be.

Finally, elite members of both programs will also receive a slew of perks depending on their status. Though the details vary based on the elite tier, most mid- to top-tier elites of both airlines will have reciprocal lounge access when flying on eligible flights, free preferred seat selection, extra checked baggage allowances, priority airport handling and more.

You’ll be able to input your SkyMiles or Matmid number when booking with Delta or El Al.

Perhaps most interestingly, El Al wrote in a regulatory filing that it has enlisted Delta’s help in joining the SkyTeam airline alliance, of which Delta is a founding member. El Al’s SkyTeam application is probably still years away, though.

“Working closely with EL AL will further strengthen Delta’s connection to Israel by offering more customers unrivaled access to destinations across the U.S. Enhanced partnerships are integral to our long-term strategy to better connect Delta customers around the world,” Matteo Curcio, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said in a statement.

While the launch of the partnership is overshadowed by the ongoing war in Israel, the tie-up between two rivals on routes between the U.S. and Israel might’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Though Delta recently suspended flights to Tel Aviv through March 29, 2024, the airline has spent the past few years building up its presence in Israel.

For Delta, this includes a new route from Boston to Tel Aviv, along with the resumption of service from Atlanta to Tel Aviv. The carrier also flies daily service from New York to Israel, a route that’s been operated consistently since 2008, Cirium schedules show.

El Al goes head-to-head with Delta on routes to Boston and New York, but the two airlines will instead codeshare in these markets in the future. Furthermore, as the flag carrier of Israel, the airline also connects Tel Aviv with other destinations in the U.S. that are unserved by other airlines, including Los Angeles and Miami.

Combined, Delta and El Al will become the market leader for flights to Israel — a move that’s likely to irk American Airlines and United Airlines.

How to get in: Best credit cards for airport lounge access 

Newark is United’s main international gateway on the East Coast, and it’s home to two daily flights to Israel operated by the airline (before the war).

Aside from its Newark connectivity, United has made a big play for the market between the U.S. and Israel, starting service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in recent years.

Meanwhile, American reentered the Israel market in May 2021 with flights from New York.

Before the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) flight launched, American hadn’t flown to Tel Aviv since January 2016, when it had flights from Philadelphia. In addition to the JFK service, the airline was planning to connect Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Miami International Airport (MIA) with Israel.

The latter route launched in June 2021 but was cut earlier this year. And American never moved forward to launching the DFW flight, canceling it in May 2022 before it even launched.

While the new partnership might be good for Delta flyers, it does spell the end of El Al’s existing tie-ups with Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.

El Al will cease partnering with American on March 30, 2024, and will cut ties with Alaska Airlines on June 30, 2024.

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Flight operations are currently running normally at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) despite the eruption. The U.S. Embassy in Iceland issued a volcano alert saying, “U.S. citizens are advised to monitor local news and government websites for detailed information and to follow Civil Protection instructions.”

The popular Blue Lagoon is closed due to the volcano, and some roads in and out of Rejkyavik are closed to traffic.

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the Reykjanes Peninsula, where there have been a series of earthquakes over the past month. According to a Washington Post report, one of the roads to Reykjavik has been closed.

Volcanologists say the eruption could last as many as 10 days.

There is also a geothermal power plant about a mile from the eruption that continues to be operated remotely.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now?

Right now, the U.S. Embassy in Iceland is not telling Americans to cancel travel plans. It said: “Airlines will base their flight operation decisions on ash forecasts and other factors from the Icelandic Met Office and its partners. If you have pending travel plans, contact your airline or check their website for information.”

The U.S. Embassy did advise travelers to:

• Avoid the area.
• Monitor the latest information from the Government of Iceland on the seismic/volcanic activity: https://www.government.is/topics/public-safety-and-security/seismic-activity-in-reykjanes/
• Follow the instructions of Icelandic authorities, Icelandic Civil Defense (https://www.facebook.com/Almannavarnir/).
• Monitor volcanic activity at: https://en.vedur.is/ and https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/.
• Monitor local media outlets for updates, including the online National Broadcasting service, RUV, (also at https://www.facebook.com/ruvenglish). Live webcams of the area are visible here.
• Follow the latest alerts on https://safetravel.is/ and @safetravel.

When might it be OK to travel to Iceland?

At least so far, it appears safe to travel to Iceland with the caveat that tourists should avoid the impacted area and closely monitor the news.

Airlines allowing changes to Iceland flights

So far, no airlines have issued specific warnings to avoid travel to Iceland or issued travel waivers. Some are advising customers to keep an eye on the situation, though.

Play Airline

Icelandic carrier Play Airlines issued this advisory:

“Due to a volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland on December 18, 2023, the roads to the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon have been closed while the situation is being evaluated. We do not expect any disruptions to our flight schedule but safety is always our top priority and the situation is being monitored closely by the relevant authorities. We ask all passengers booked on upcoming flights to keep a close eye on messages from us regarding a possible disruption to our flight schedule.”

Iceland Air

Bottom line

There’s a major eruption of a volcano underway right now in Iceland. So far, there are few travel restrictions aside from areas being closed near the site of the eruption, but that could change quickly.

If you have travel planned for Iceland, keep a close eye on the news and talk to your airline or hotel if you have a trip planned in the next few days and weeks.

Related reading: 

• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here’s what to do next
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