​​Norse Atlantic is dealing with serious financial trouble and exploring a possible sale, merger, or partnership, complicating those ultra-cheap fares between cities like New York and London. Flights in the next few weeks are probably fine, but trips booked a few months out deserve more caution. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are some alternatives to consider if you want to book with points, and since both are transfer partners with just about every major rewards program, you may already have the points to book through them.

Airlines are bringing the basic economy playbook to business class. United, Delta, and JetBlue now all sell stripped-down premium fares with fewer perks, and American will likely follow. We also cover a new American Airlines policy affecting elite upgrades on select premium transcontinental and long-haul Hawaii routes starting Aug. 25, 2026.

Elsewhere, The Reach Hotel, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, launched Key West's first all-inclusive package. Hilton is also selling points for 0.5 cents each through Sept. 25, 2026.

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Sometimes the cheapest flight ends up costing you the most.

Happy Friday, this is your five-minute rundown on what’s happening in travel right now.

I had a couple of friends ask me this week whether they should book Norse flights to Europe.

My answer was basically, not yet, and here’s why.

If you’re not familiar, Norse is behind those ultra-cheap fares from cities like New York to London and Rome. It’s basically the Spirit of transatlantic flights. The fare looks amazing until you add everything back like a carry-on, meals, and drinks.

You get the gist.

But the bigger reason I’d wait is because Norse is having some serious financial trouble and is now exploring a possible sale, merger, or partnership.

Now that doesn’t mean it’s shutting down tomorrow. So if you’re flying with them in the next few weeks, I wouldn’t panic. But if you’re booking something six, seven, sorry, I couldn’t resist, months out, I’d think twice.

If you’ve got points sitting around, I’d start with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Air France-KLM Flying Blue instead.

Virgin regularly has great deals to London, sometimes starting around 6,000 points each way in economy, and you’re getting an actual airline experience, meals, drinks, and a carry-on, all included.

Flying Blue is great if Paris, Amsterdam, or connections around Europe are more your speed, and their Promo Rewards drop most months with some good deals.

Here’s the part newer points people sometimes miss. Both of these are transfer partners of basically every major program. They also run transfer bonuses often enough that you may need even fewer points than you’d think.

Cheap airfare is great, but cheap airfare with free bags and an airline that’s still around next year is even better.

Norse isn’t the only one finding creative ways to get more out of you. Airlines everywhere are doing it, even in fancier cabins.

Everyone knows what basic economy is at this point. But that same stripped-down idea is creeping into premium cabins now too.

United kicked this off back in April with stripped-down versions of Polaris and Premium Plus. Delta followed in July with Basic First, Basic Business, and Basic Premium Select. Now JetBlue’s doing it too, with something called BlueFirst Base.

At this point, I’d bet American joins by the end of the year. They’re basically the last major holdout.

This isn’t making business class cheaper. It’s just creating a new way to upsell you back into what used to be included.

Depending on the airline, basic business can mean no free changes, no refunds, no seat selection, sometimes no lounge access, sometimes even reduced mileage earning.

There’s a silver lining, at least for now. If you’re booking business class with miles instead of cash, award tickets still tend to book into the regular fare class, so you still get the full experience. Just double-check before you buy though, since that’s exactly the kind of thing airlines love to quietly change.

My advice would be to stop comparing business class prices and start comparing which version of business class you’re actually buying.

Okay, one more thing on premium cabins before we move on, and this only matters if you’ve got American elite status. Starting Aug. 25, elite upgrades on premium transcon and long-haul Hawaii routes get you in premium economy, not the double upgrade to business like before. If you want a real shot at that lie-flat seat, you’ll need to book premium economy from the get-go.

Okay, palate cleanser.

If you’ve ever wanted an all-inclusive trip without leaving the country, Key West finally has one.

The Reach, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, just launched the destination’s first all-inclusive package. Standard rooms start around $250 a night, and the package costs about $150 extra per adult per day, covering meals and drinks. Unfortunately, though, you can’t book this package with points.

If an easy, pre-paid Key West trip sounds appealing, this one’s worth a look. And if you want extra perks on your stay, we’ll link our favorite cards below that can help you fast-track Hilton elite status.

Speaking of Hilton, it just launched a new points promo.

Buying hotel points isn’t something I’d normally tell you to do, especially since these sales come around pretty often. But when Hilton sells them for half a cent each, which they’re doing now through Sept. 25, the math can actually work.

A place like Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills can run around 120,000 points a night. Buy those points during this promo and you’re paying roughly $600, compared to cash rates that are often over $1,200.

Just don’t buy points speculatively. Only do this if you’ve already found the specific redemption you’re after.

Okay, that wraps up week one of Departure Digest! Happy Friday, I hope you have a beautiful weekend! We’ll see you Monday!