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April 1, 2025 | View Online
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I’m sorry to announce that I’m officially stepping away from writing the newsletter. After years of curating content, I’ve decided to pursue a more peaceful life... in the world of professional airport lounge reviewing. But before I go, I’ve got a good story for you below. Love you all.
In today’s edition:
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Google’s latest travel tool makes tracking hotel prices and trip plans easier
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Earn AAdvantage miles on Fiji Airways flights
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LAX's new Virgin Atlantic Lounge is not just a pit stop, it’s a destination
APRIL FOOLS,
Kaylen
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| TECHNOLOGY
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Credit: Google
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Travel Smarter with Google’s Newest Features
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Google just added new features to its vacation-planning tools, and as someone who uses their tools exclusively for my trips, I’m so here for this! The new features involve some help from AI to make it easier for you to build day-by-day itineraries and track accommodation costs to keep within your budget.
What are the new updates?
✈️ AI Itineraries: Instead of just city itineraries, AI Overviews can now create day-by-day plans for entire regions or countries. It also has the option to add your specific requirements or a budget.
📄 Easy Sharing: For you Type-A travelers, you can now quickly share your AI-generated travel plans via Google Docs or Gmail with friends and family, whether they’re joining you or not.
🏨 Hotel Price Alerts: Google will now email you if hotel prices change for the dates you’re watching, just like it does with Google Flights. FINALLY.
📸 Google Maps Screenshots: A new tool scans your screenshots for place names and helps you find them on the map. This is my favorite new update because most of my photo album is filled with screenshots of places I want to visit or stay.
🤖 Google Maps & Gemini: Ask about places with a quick voice command, create your own AI travel bot, and use Google Lens to snap a pic for instant insights. It’s your tiny pocket tour guide!
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| NEWS
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News. Without Motives. That’s 1440
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| AIRLINES
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Bidgee/Wikimedia (CC by 3.0)
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You Can Now Earn AAdvantage Miles Flying Fiji Airways
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Big news for AAdvantage fans and island hoppers! Fiji Airways is officially joining the Oneworld alliance today (this is no April Fool’s joke) and adopting AAdvantage as its loyalty program. That means more perks, more miles, and an easier way to earn and redeem rewards on your way to paradise.
AAdvantage elite members can now enjoy priority boarding, lounge access in the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge at Nadi Airport (if you have Platinum or Sapphire status), and earn miles on Fiji Airways flights to LAX, SFO, DFW, and Honolulu. While Gold members don’t get a free checked bag on Fiji flights, the airline offers one free checked bag on long-haul international flights. Platinum members and above will receive an extra bag allowance, and AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for flights to Fiji.
If you're looking to make your miles work harder, I’d suggest cashing them in for a flight to Fiji. Sure, it’s a long haul, but I promise the paradise you’ll find at the end is worth the hours you have to sit through. Pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and sorbet-colored sunsets—um, yes, please! It’s a smart and easy way to stretch your frequent flyer miles further.
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| LOUNGES
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Credit: Virgin Atlantic
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Virgin Atlantic New Luxe Lounge at LAX
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If you're traveling through LAX soon, Virgin Atlantic just opened its Clubhouse lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. And in true LA fashion, it brings the A-list vibes with a red carpet entry, a cinema with velvet seats, and a VIP-only Royal Box—a space for VIPs with mood lighting and a secret menu. See Alan Cummings share a glimpse of the Clubhouse!
Fancy a lounge? Here are some perks:
🎶 Workstations with records and memorabilia paying tribute to Virgin Records' legacy.
🧘 The Zen Den features a Forme Studio smart fitness mirror with guided meditations and stretches to prep for your flight.
🏋️ Weights, yoga mats, and blocks are available to help travelers loosen up and unwind before your flight
🚿 Post-workout (or pre-flight) showers that come stocked with herbal products from Flamingo Estate, a lifestyle company based in LA. A personal favorite of mine. I love all their products!
🍽️ What’s the food and drink selection like?
I know you're just here for the food and drinks. As am I! The lounge has a signature drink, the Twisted Angel, a gin and Aperol mix. There are also non-alcoholic Trip drinks with magnesium and botanicals to help you relax pre-flight. The food menu has London classics like fish and chips and chicken tikka masala and LA favorites like California rolls, tofu pho, tuna poke bowls, and fig salad.
🛋️ Who can access the lounge?
You can access the Clubhouse at LAX if you're traveling in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic or Delta One on an international Delta flight or if you have Flying Club Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, or other eligible loyalty statuses. This covers guests traveling with you on the same itinerary, ticket, and day or those transiting or connecting internationally.
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| WISHLIST WORTHY STAYS
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If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind getaway, these gorgeous châteauxs across the pond have the perfect mix of history, luxury, and a little royal charm for the plot.
🇫🇷 This historic chateau just 40 minutes outside of Paris is a stay out of a fairytale
🇱🇺 In Luxembourg's center is this grand, renovated hotel with 30 rooms and white glove service
🏴 Sleep in royal history at Balmoral Castle, the beloved Scottish retreat of Queen Elizabeth II
🇮🇪 Ashford Castle is a lavish retreat in Ireland with 800 years of history and breathtaking grounds
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