Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening and closing, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.
Happy new season! Depending on your hemisphere, the autumn or spring equinox has just passed (here’s the science on that), but if you’re not digging the pumpkin spice or cool nights, there’s always the option to jet across the globe.
Here’s this week’s travel news so you can start planning.
Aviation highs and lows
It was a good week for Qatar Airways, which was named the world’s favorite airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, and also for Air New Zealand, which launched the first direct flight between Auckland and New York.
However, a study released Wednesday revealed that airline passenger satisfaction is taking a dive in North America, and one East Coast airport is leaving customers unhappier than most.
That same airport (alright, it’s Newark!) was the worst US airport for cancellations this summer, but if you want to know who was in the bad books globally, look to Canada for the world leaders in delays.
A regional US airline’s controversial proposal to tackle the global pilot shortage by cutting the hours it takes to become a co-pilot was slapped down by the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday.
And Southwest Airlines pulled an outrageous move when it surprised a flight full of Hawaii-bound passengers by handing out ukuleles for all and imposing an impromptu beginners’ lesson. Yes, you heard us right. Train company Amtrak was quick to troll the airline on Twitter.
Unlocking Asia
At the World Airline Awards on Friday, Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted told the audience that the industry was being buoyed by the “pent-up demand for travel” but that we now “just need to see a few more borders opening.”
In Asia, the most cautious continent when it comes to Covid-19 policies, that’s finally beginning to happen. Japan has set a date to reopen to mass tourism next month, and on September 26, Hong Kong will remove international quarantine after more than two years.
The central Asian nation of Bhutan reopened on September 23, and news also came this week that China is considering easing entry rules for some foreign tourists.
Destination inspiration
To paraphrase Jean-Paul Sartre, travel is heaven but hell is other people. If you want to hit that sweet spot of great location but smaller crowds, then check out our list of 22 of the USA’s most underrated destinations.
And in Europe, the big-hitter capitals are rightly celebrated, but you can also get your fill of magnificent architecture and rich authentic culture in the continent’s many small towns. Here are some of the most beautiful.
If paradise islands surrounded by azure waters are your thing – and who among us can say they aren’t – you might be glad to hear that the South Pacific archipelago of Fiji and the dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis have both moved down to the “moderate” risk category on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel advisories list. Check out the latest here.
Wipe out
Why swim when you can ride? A Californian surfer recently had his board hijacked by an otter keen to catch some waves. That’s after an Argentinian paddleboarder got knocked into the water last month after being surrounded by a pod of whales.
In case you missed it
Munich’s Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, is back after a two-year hiatus.
It’s spawned hops-loving events around the world, but in Malaysia, religious groups are calling for a ban.
There was a dramatic rise in demand for flights out of Moscow on Wednesday.
Many Russians were keen to flee the “partial mobilization” of the country’s citizens.
A flight attendant was punched by a passenger on a flight from Mexico to Los Angeles.
And a mechanical fault forced a United Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in New Jersey.
The whole “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” podcast series is now on CNN Audio and Apple Podcasts.
The last episode – Bourdain’s personal journey through New York’s Lower East Side – dropped on Monday. Listen here.
Sitting in style
When it comes to camping chairs, the holy grail is to find something comfortable, durable, lightweight and stylish. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have selected 22 of the best on the market to assist you in your quest.