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July 9, 2026 | View Online
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The World Cup has me so stressed out now that it's in the quarterfinals. As an empath, I want every country to win. I miss watching Cabo Verde so much. Their run put the country on the map in a way no ad campaign ever could.
Now, people are seeking out travel to the islands to chase a little of that same magic that made the whole world fall in love with the underdogs. I love to see it.
In today’s edition:
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Delta strips fares back and is going basic with business class
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Your Marriott points are worth less this week, and it came with no notice
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The cheapest flight isn't always the good deal it looks like, and here's how you can tell
Happy tears,
Kaylen
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| AIRLINES
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Delta One Suites/Wikimedia (CC by 2.0)
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Delta Is Adding a Cheaper Business Ticket, But It Skips These Perks
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A few years back, Delta hinted at a basic business fare, and this week, the other shoe finally dropped. The airline has started selling three new entry-level premium fares: Delta First Basic for domestic first-class seats, Premium Select Basic for premium economy, and Basic Business, a leaner cut of the Delta One experience.
The new fares are live on select routes right now, and here's the thing: you're still sitting in the nice seat, but now you're paying extra for things that used to be included, like lounge access or changing your flight without a fee. I know, how annoying! But if you never use the lounge anyway or don't care to, this could be a cheaper way into business class than you had before.
If you book Basic Business on a route like JFK to LAX or Atlanta to London, here's what you give up: no Delta One Lounge access starting January 19, 2027, no choice of your specific lie-flat suite, a fee if you change plans, one fewer checked bag, and fewer SkyMiles.
This has been two years in the making. Delta already tested the waters with basic Comfort+ last fall, and United beat them to basic Polaris and Premium Plus this spring. And you already know how it goes: once one carrier unbundles a cabin, the rest follow, so we'll likely be seeing more basic business fares from other airlines in the future.
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| TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
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The Supplement Every Traveler Should Have in Their Carry-On
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Get 25% your order here with code DFC25.
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| HOTELS
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What Marriott's Latest Award Price Increase Means for Your Points
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Marriott quietly moved the goalposts on your points. Goooooal for them, not for us. This past weekend, booking sites and hotel pricing trackers flagged a 5% to 10% jump in award prices worldwide. So if you've been saving points for a specific trip or summer stay, check rates now on Marriott, because they may have already gone up.
If you were planning to splurge on something special, the priciest properties just got even more expensive, with some up nearly 13% in a year. The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad now costs 160,000 points per night instead of 142,000. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is up to 220,000 from 198,000, and Mystique Santorini jumped from 126,000 to 172,000. Yeah... BIG ouch.
The changes are also hurting free night certificates. Hotels that used to fall within the 35K, 50K, or 85K certificate tiers are now just above those limits, meaning you'll have to top them off with your own points (up to 25,000 extra points per certificate).
A few hotels have remained unchanged, but the bigger issue is how much value 85K certificates have lost. They used to cover stays at many Ritz-Carlton properties, but now they barely make a dent at hotels charging 150,000 to 170,000 points per night. In my opinion, it's better to redeem your points and certificates sooner rather than later. Marriott has repeatedly raised award prices without notice, and if I were in their shoes, why wouldn't I keep doing it if people keep paying?
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| TRAVEL TIPS
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How to Find Out If Your Flight Price Is Actually a Good Deal
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A cheap-looking flight isn't always the best deal. Before I book, I always check to see how the fare compares to the route's last 90 days, whether the season explains the cost, and whether I'm in the right window to book. An extra few minutes confirming those, plus a few more tips below, are usually enough to tell a real deal from a fare that just looks cheap.
📋 Copy and save this checklist for finding the best deal:
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Check Google Flights to see if the fare is labeled low, typical, or high
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Compare it against the usual range for that route, season, and airport
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Use the Date Grid and Price Graph to test cheaper days
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Check nearby airports, LAX vs. Burbank or Santa Ana, JFK vs. EWR, or SFO vs. OAK/SJC
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Set fare alerts to track the recent average and recent low
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Watch the fees, a cheap base fare can end up costing more once bags and seats are added
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Book when the fare is near the route's lowest range, not just when it looks cheap
That's the short version of how I judge a fare, but the real difference is in the specifics like what counts as a low price for your exact route, how much season shifts the number, and which booking window actually applies to your trip.
Read the full details here, with real price ranges and more tools and tips to know about.
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| TIKTOK OF THE WEEK
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Quick on his feet.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING
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Disneyland is upgrading one of its most popular rides
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A judge won't dismiss the lawsuit over United's windowless "window seats"
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This Italian village is imposing fines on tourists with bare chests or in swimwear
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This frozen Antarctic vault will hold the remains of Earth’s vanishing glaciers
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My goal this year is to travel more sustainably, and these are the best destinations to do so
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If you’re in NYC and need to cool off from the heat, these are the best hotels with pools
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