Greetings from Austin! The ATX Jetsetter crew is spending the weekend at home after returning from a wonderful trip to Almaty, Dubai, and Istanbul. Though we’ve been recovering from a bit of jet lag its been a busy news week and I was finally able to get back to posting regularly. The weekly recap for April 5, 2025 is below!
ITA Airways Receives Approval to Join Star Alliance
ITA Airways is officially joining Star Alliance. The Italian flag carrier received approval to become the alliance’s 26th member after a vote by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). The integration is expected to occur in 2026 and comes as Star Alliance founding member Lufthansa has taken a controlling interest in the airline. ITA Airways left the SkyTeam alliance late last year.
American Airlines Unveils New Flagship Menu Offerings for Spring 2025
American Airlines’ Flagship Lounges have a new spring menu crafted in partnership with the James Beard Foundation. The lounges will feature bold, seasonal dishes from top chefs in major hubs with highlights including coconut chicken curry in Dallas, shrimp ceviche in Miami, and a bao bar in Los Angeles. This will allow passengers to get a taste of each of American’s hubs prior to departure.
What’s Next for Delta’s Growth in Austin
David Hart, Delta’s Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning, sat down in a one on one interview to discuss the airline’s willingness to continue growing in Central Texas. Delta continues to unveil new routes and, with its continuous growth in Texas, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Austin elevated to a hub once the new midfield concourse opens.
Trip Report: A Journey Across Asia
Though we’re back from the trip now, I’ve begun working on the trip report for our amazing adventure to Almaty, Dubai, and Istanbul. This was our first major trip with ATX Jr. and he did a fantastic job throughout our travels. I hope you all enjoy following along over the next few weeks as I publish the reviews and reports from this exciting adventure across Asia!
Review: United Airlines Boeing 737-800 Economy (SFO-AUS)
Before leaving for Asia, we took a quick trip out to the Bay Area. On the way back, we flew home on a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Economy. The crew was friendly, though the service didn’t go above and beyond, and, while the seat pitch was tight, I appreciated the updated IFE screens which made it easy to pass the time during our flight.
I’ve been a loyal United flyer for a couple of years now and I’m sure I’ll be back on another one of their Boeing 737-800s again soon.
Summary
Now that we’re back, rested and recharged, from a fantastic vacation, I’m diving back in to tons of airline, hotel, and lounge reviews in the coming weeks as well as staying on top of all of the major travel stories. Stay tuned for the recap of our trip and thanks for checking out the weekly recap for April 5, 2025!