Hello from New York City.

It's a somber day here as the nation marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. More on that below.

I just got back from Cupertino, California, where Apple unveiled a slew of new products.

Here's everything you need to know heading into the weekend.

To my Jewish readers: shanah tovah! I'll be celebrating this weekend with my wife's family in Westchester. (Anyone else notice that the new Jewish year is 5787? A great one for aviation geeks like me.)

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I still remember exactly where I was 25 years ago today — at school during recess, when my second-grade teacher ushered us inside and told us our parents would pick us up soon. (You probably remember where you were on Sept. 11, 2001, too.)

It wasn't until my parents came home early from work that I realized something was wrong.

That afternoon, I saw the footage on TV. I don't remember much about the days that followed.

What I do know is that Sept. 11 changed our lives forever.

I grew up in a post-Sept. 11 world. I have no real memories of what airports and air travel were like before the security era.

My thoughts today are with the families and friends of the victims and first responders. May their memories always be a blessing.

I just got back from what might be the biggest Apple event I've ever attended.

You probably caught some of the news. Here's what stood out after playing with all the new devices in person.

The star of the show was the long-rumored foldable iPhone Duo — the first new iPhone form factor since the original launched 19 years ago.

Here are my first impressions:

I’ll have plenty more to share as the release nears — including whether I think it’s worth the $1,999 price tag. The Duo becomes available on Oct. 23, with pre-orders opening at 8 a.m. ET on Oct. 16.

I put together a few short videos worth watching:

Apple's flagship smartphone also got a meaningful upgrade, with a few features that should drive a lot of trade-ins.

It starts with the smaller Dynamic Island, which now handles three simultaneous Live Activities. You'll never miss a gate change or a rideshare update again.

The main camera gets a variable aperture. Even if you're not a pro photographer, this will sharpen your low-light shots.

The upgraded A20 Pro chip, longer battery, and new colors (I have a soft spot for the burgundy) round things out.

For most people, this is the phone to get. It starts at $1,199 and lands Sept. 18.

I called this the sleeper announcement for a reason. At $129, Apple's entry-level AirPods 5 might be the best earbuds on the market.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is now standard on the cheap pair. Apple says it blocks up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, and it held up really well on my flight home.

They trade the in-ear tips (that you'll find on the pricier Pro model) for an open fit.

And if you upgrade to the $149 version, you’ll get a wireless charging case with a built-in speaker to help you find it, an extra hour of battery, and volume control right on the stem.

Both ship Sept. 18.

Rounding out the event are new Apple Watch models.

Long-time readers know I've become something of a regular runner since the NYC Marathon last year. I've been wearing an Apple Watch Ultra ever since, and the health and fitness updates are what I'm watching this year.

But the update that’s getting the most ink is Audio Intelligence.

Live Rewind replays the last 15 seconds of a conversation as text with a double-press of the Digital Crown. Siri Recap takes ambient notes throughout your day and summarizes the conversations for you.

Both run through secure on-device processing. Apple says it never saves raw audio as a file and can't access your data.

Both features are opt-in and arrive in beta later this year. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 hit stores Sept. 18.

To get home from San Francisco, I flew American's premium transcontinental Airbus A321T yet again. This time, with a twist.

I splurged on a first-class upgrade. Here's how it went.

I booked a $411 economy ticket and used a systemwide upgrade to confirm business right away. Then, 24 hours before departure, American dropped the first-class upgrade offer from $538 to $291.

My rule is that I'll spend about $50 per hour on an upgrade, so this one fit.

I hadn't flown Flagship First in 18 months, and this will be one of my last. (Here's the timeline for when American is retiring first class.)

The seat is supremely comfortable, the crew was friendly, and the food is better than business — you get olives to start, fancier butter, nicer salt and pepper shakers, and a soup course.

But this was my sixth A321T flight in three months, and once again, the seat's physical condition is sad.

I know the plane is on its way out. Still, if you're paying $3,000 or more for these seats (what American usually charges), scratches, dents, tears, and a half-broken tray table aren't a good look.

The travel industry can be incestuous. There are only so many brands and players, and everyone is forever trying to one-up each other.

The latest example: Delta and Hyatt are teaming up on reciprocal benefits.

The news landed just hours after American confirmed it was breaking up with Hyatt.

Frankly, I'm surprised Delta saw Hyatt as the right hotel partner. Hyatt is a much smaller player than Hilton, for instance. (Marriott and United are already coupled off.)

At launch, elites in both programs will earn miles and points on the same trip, with more benefits expected to roll out later.

This one is developing; the first phase hasn't even launched yet.

It’s time to announce the winner of the American x July centennial carry-on bag giveaway.

I originally promised it to whoever referred the most people to the newsletter. I'm keeping my word — and I'm also sending a second bag to one random subscriber who participated in the giveaway.

I just emailed the winners, so check your inbox.

And this giveaway proved really popular, so I'll do another one soon. Stay tuned.

Not enough people know about Platinum Member Airfares.

The program discounts fares on more than 40 airlines, including Delta, Alaska, and now American, covering both domestic and international routes.

Not every itinerary will show meaningful savings, but it's worth a search in the Amex Travel portal before you book.

You need an American Express Platinum Card® to qualify.

Here’s the link to get started.

Using these links is the easiest way to support FTTT — and I only recommend what I actually use.

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