Happy Friday!

I just got home from a 24-hour trip to Austin, where I braved the scorching heat to stay at one of the country's top resorts and attend one of Delta's most unusual route reveals ever.

More on that — and other major updates — below.

But first, a programming note.

My wife and I are heading to the Greek islands on Saturday. (Thanks to everyone who sent me Santorini recs.)

I haven't taken a day off since I started writing this newsletter last Thanksgiving, and since we're leaving our daughter with the grandparents, I’m going to give my keyboard a one-week break.

You'll catch everything from the trip live on my Instagram. Follow along there until I’m back in your inbox on Aug. 24.

Advertiser and Editorial Disclosure

Presented by SAP Concur

By a show of hands, have you used AI to research or plan a work trip before checking whether your company was okay with it?

Turns out you're in good company. (Don't worry, I'd probably do the same.)

I'm not surprised that 75% of business travelers are using AI to plan work trips. What got me is that 72% have used — or would use — tools their employer never approved. Nearly half admit to bending travel policy outright, according to the eighth annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey.

But that's just scratching the surface.

A wild 92% of CFOs think it's at least somewhat likely their employees are using AI to fabricate expense reports. (Only 67% of travelers think that's happening where they work.)

That trust gap is a problem, but I don't believe the fix is to block access to the tools — it's to build better ones that business travelers want to use.

SAP Concur just announced a slew of new AI products aimed at exactly that. I'm partial to the AI-assisted corporate card management, which lets you request or update a virtual card over text message. (It's slated to launch in Q4.)

That's the kind of solution I’d actually use. There's much more to this — I laid out my whole argument on LinkedIn.

Delta just shared five major updates with me about its next-generation fleet.

You won't want to miss this, especially because no one has reported them before. Hint: it involves fancy new business-class suites and larger domestic first-class cabins.

Over the past few months, my Verizon service has been miserable in crowded places like airports, train stations, and even stadiums.

I need functioning data when I'm traveling. I posted about my frustrations and received hundreds of replies from readers with the same experience.

So I ran a more formal test this week at JFK and AUS.

Despite showing full bars of ultra-wideband 5G, I couldn't load a Speedtest on multiple occasions at both airports — in the terminal and on the taxiway.

For the record, Verizon’s executive relations team confirmed to me that this is expected behavior in crowded places.

I also put a T-Mobile eSIM on my backup phone. The service was better, but not perfect.

So while I know I need to switch, I'm worried that T-Mobile — the network most of you told me to move to — won't be much better.

I've been thinking a lot about hotels recently. (Maybe it's because I'm excited for the two properties I'm staying at in Greece.)

But one thing I haven't seen anyone talk about is how you should leave the room.

Before I go, I clean up after myself and pile all my dirty towels in the bathroom. I don't strip the bed, but I keep the sheets neat and tidy for the housekeeping staff.

And of course, I leave a few dollars for them too.

One of the reasons I flew down to Austin was to check out the Commodore Perry Estate, an Auberge Collection property that feels more like a European villa than a Texas resort.

I was thoroughly impressed. The service was top-notch, the dining was delicious, my room was gorgeous, and the property couldn't have been more picturesque.

I've only stayed at one Auberge property before this (Mauna Lani on the Big Island), but I promise it won't be my last. (Wink, wink.)

In some ways, Auberge feels like a close competitor to Four Seasons, which has long been my favorite luxe hotel chain.

This week, I shared a collection of nine hotel pet peeves. (Here are the first three and the next six.)

But after my stay at the Commodore Perry Estate, I need to add one more to the list.

Weak water pressure.

A shower, especially at a five-star hotel, should have water pressure strong enough to nearly knock you over.

Delta just announced a new long-haul route that doesn't touch a single one of its hubs: Austin to Paris, with daily summer-seasonal service starting March 27, 2027.

On the one hand, this is a rare move for Delta. All but three of Delta's existing long-haul flights connect through one of its hubs. (Kudos if you can name them.)

On the other hand, the writing has been on the wall for years. Delta is busy turning Austin into what'll almost certainly become its next hub.

By summer 2027, the airline expects to serve roughly 30 destinations from Austin and operate more than 70 departures on peak days. It's investing in more routes, a second, larger Sky Club, 15 gates at the airport, and much more.

I scored a rare interview with Delta's chief commercial officer, Joe Esposito, about the airline's growth in Austin.

Here's what he had to say.

I can't believe how many people walk past the Priority Pass "lounge" that hands out free snacks and drinks with no wait.

Truth be told, I'm guilty as charged. I stopped into Gameway for the first time this week.

Gameway is a video game arcade at nine major U.S. airports, stocked with all the consoles you might want to play.

But for eligible Priority Pass holders, the savvy unlock is that swiping your card gets you a free snack and drink — plus an hour of gameplay, if you want it.

Each eligible guest can get their own snack and drink, and if you have multiple Priority Pass cards, it can't hurt to ask the agent to scan them all to stock up.

Note that Priority Passes issued through eligible American Express and Capital One cards generally aren't accepted, though other issuers should be covered.

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