I'm back!

Hope you had a great weekend — and that your inbox didn't miss me too much.

If you followed along on Instagram, you saw that my wife and I went island hopping across Greece last week to celebrate our fifth anniversary and attend a friend's wedding.

It turned into one of our most memorable trips yet. I've got a ton to recap, and I even missed some big news while I was gone.

Let's get right into it.

Advertiser and Editorial Disclosure

American Express has big plans for its Centurion Lounge network.

The issuer is preparing to open two new outposts, renovate several others, and expand its quick-turn Sidecar concept.

I caught up with Audrey Hendley, the Amex Travel president who oversees lounges, to find out what's next. Here's the latest.

We kicked off the trip in Emirates first class on the retrofitted Boeing 777, flying Newark to Athens on one of the airline's rare fifth-freedom routes.

That's twice this summer for me. (I flew Emirates first from New York to Milan on my way to Sicily in May.) For my wife, it was her second time ever. The last was our honeymoon five years ago.

The experience was over the top, in the best way. The new suite finishes are gorgeous, and the service was polished — special kudos to the Lebanese purser who went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable.

Two of the best parts of Emirates first, the onboard shower spa and the walk-up bar, are exclusive to the Airbus A380, but we still had a great time on the 777.

Better yet, we got to try the airline's new free Starlink Wi-Fi. It's a massive upgrade over the old OnAir Wi-Fi.

So what's the secret to snagging an Emirates first-class suite, now that mileage redemptions are limited to Skywards elite members?

Book business class, then upgrade at the airport.

If first-class seats are open before departure, you can buy up at check-in. (And if someone no-shows, you can even purchase an upgrade onboard.)

We booked a business saver ticket for 59,000 Emirates miles each, then paid 56,000 miles apiece to upgrade at check-in.

I transferred points instantly from Bilt, which converts at 1:1. Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles also transfer to Emirates, though at reduced ratios.

That's a phenomenal deal for a ticket that would otherwise run $11,000. I hope everyone reading this gets to try this bucket-list experience one day.

The wedding we attended was in Paros, home to one of Marriott's newest blockbuster properties.

The photos online looked dreamy, and I’d been eyeing Orosea, the new 40-room Autograph Collection resort on the island, for months.

Turns out the marketing images aren't overhyping it. It's the nicest Autograph I've ever stayed in.

But the hotel is about two months old, and it shows. Everything feels new and fresh — including the staff. We hit multiple service failures during our stay, which has me wondering whether we should have waited for the property to iron out the kinks.

Or should hotels be ready for prime time on day one?

I hesitated before choosing Santorini as our first destination.

My last visit was a decade ago, and everyone warned me the island had become unbearable in summer.

After hiking from Fira to Oia on our first morning, I briefly thought we'd made a mistake. It was packed — thanks in part to the three rotating cruise ships depositing upwards of 10,000 tourists a day.

Our solution to beating the crowds: stay at the resort all day, then head out for dinner.

It worked like a charm at our 21-room haven in Imerovigli: Auberge's Grace Hotel. The property blew us away.

The dramatic cliffside setting alone is worth the splurge, with views of the caldera, Skaros Rock, and the golden sunsets.

The rooms are modern and spacious by Santorini standards, and the pool was the perfect place to relax during the day.

The dining menus could use more variety. But if you have a milestone trip coming up and the Greek islands are on the list, add this one to your wishlist.

American Airlines is undoing one of its worst decisions in recent memory. The carrier will install 4K seatback screens on every single-aisle jet, years after it spent millions ripping the old ones out.

Installations start with new Airbus and Boeing deliveries in 2028, and existing planes will get reconfigured over the following years. American expects to finish the project by the early 2030s.

By then, the airline will be years behind Delta and United on seatback entertainment.

I just wish American led the industry here, instead of copying moves its more profitable rivals made first. Better late than never, I suppose.

Redeeming Flying Blue miles for trips to Europe has long been one of the best ways to use points. (Every major credit card points currency transfers to Flying Blue.)

It works in economy — a friend paid 15,000 miles for New York to Athens last week — and in business, where I routinely pay 45,000 to 60,000 miles from New York to Paris.

The bad news: Flying Blue is adding tiered redemption fares for new bookings as of Sept. 8. The cheapest awards will book into a new basic “light” tier. (Note that redemptions on partner airlines are unaffected.)

Flying Blue told me there will still be plenty of availability at its historical bargain rates. Those seats will just book into a more restrictive fare than before.

Unless you're 100% sure of your plans — or you have Flying Blue status, which sidesteps most of the new restrictions — I'd buy up to the Standard or Flex fare.

It's not even September, and airlines are already plotting next summer.

Delta announced Austin to Paris two weeks ago. Last week, Alaska Airlines unveiled two long-hauls of its own: Seattle to Athens and Seattle to Paris. Both launch in May 2027 on the 787-9 Dreamliner.

Neither destination surprises me — demand to major European cities is sky-high every summer. But Athens is the interesting one. It'll become Alaska's longest route ever, and it isn't a particularly high-yield market.

It's great to see Alaska growing its Seattle global hub. The airline promised at least 12 long-haul destinations from its hometown hub by 2030. Come next summer, it'll be at seven.

I ran into two travel fails on my trip that you should avoid next time you’re going abroad.

Dynamic currency conversion

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I covered everything you need above. I’ll be back on Wednesday with some big route news, lounge openings, and lots more.

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