Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-travel-daily/id1842162269
Welcome back to Travel Daily. Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories: a blend of airline shake-ups, loyalty experiments, policy pushes before mega-events, and family-friendly escapes that make long-haul travel easier.
The festival that’s helping visitors experience Maui like a local
By Will McGough | October 27, 2025
Holomua 2025 arrives November 14 at the Grand Wailea, spotlighting Maui’s innovators and cultural leaders and culminating with the Ko‘i Awards Gala. Designed to advance a community-first vision of business, the festival doubles as a guide for travelers to engage with local chefs, artisans, and experiences—from Aloha by Nature at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua to visits at Hoaloha Farms. It’s a roadmap for supporting the “real Maui” through where you dine, shop, and learn.
Alaska Airlines cuts 7 routes from San Francisco and LA in West Coast shake-up
By Sean Cudahy | October 27, 2025
Alaska is reallocating aircraft to fuel growth in San Diego and Portland, trimming seven routes from SFO and LAX (including SFO–BOS/EWR/MCO and LAX–LAS/RNO/SJC). The move reflects delivery constraints in 2026, even as the airline insists SFO and LAX remain important, with investments like a new SFO lounge. For travelers, expect more options via SAN and PDX and fewer nonstop choices on some California trunk routes.
Wyndham’s $95 loyalty program: Can hotels make subscriptions work?
By Sean O’Neill | October 27, 2025
Wyndham launched a $95-per-year Wyndham Rewards Insider tier with at least 10% off rates, automatic Gold status, 7,500 bonus points, faster earn, and discounts on flights and cruises. It’s a bold test of subscription-style loyalty in U.S. hospitality, aiming to boost engagement beyond co-branded credit cards. The big question: can Wyndham demonstrate enough recurring value for infrequent travelers to stick around?
U.S. Travel’s new policy arm pushes airport, visa fixes before World Cup
By Bailey Schulz | October 27, 2025
Backed by the U.S. Travel Association, the new America’s Sports & Travel Mega Event Coalition is urging faster visa processing and biometric upgrades at airports ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. With an estimated $100 billion at stake over the next four years, the group wants measurable visa wait-time targets by end of 2025 and smoother arrivals for international visitors. If successful, travelers could see quicker entry and more reliable airport flows during peak events.
From Interlaken to Geneva, how Michel Reybier Hospitality makes long-haul travel easier for American families
By Margaux Lushing | October 27, 2025
Two Swiss properties—Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken and La Réserve Genève—pair five-star polish with kid-forward amenities like a three-story supervised kids’ club and garden suites that open to sprawling lawns. Add Switzerland’s smooth rail network and family passes, and long-haul with little ones becomes far less daunting. It’s a compelling template for parents weighing Europe over a closer, conventional resort.
Southwest Airlines hit with rule changes — which tiers include free checked bags now?
By Jesus Garcia | October 27, 2025
Southwest’s baggage perks now vary by Rapid Rewards status: A-List gets one free checked bag (second is $35), A-List Preferred gets two free, and Companion Pass holders get two free each for both traveler and companion. For Disney-bound families and budget hawks, the change makes status more valuable—and packing strategy more critical. Price out luggage early to avoid surprise fees.
