Happy Friday!

I just got back from two back-to-back days at JFK.

Longtime readers know it takes a lot to get this Manhattan resident that deep into Queens, let alone two days in a row. (Usually, the culprit is the annoying perimeter rule at LaGuardia.)

But I came back from my JFK trips with some exciting intel and updates for you.

After the week I just had, I’m grateful that we’re spending the weekend at home. Hope you don’t have too many work emails to sift through — and enjoy your weekend!

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United just announced that it won’t allow AI agents, like Meta’s Muse or OpenAI Dots, to search, book, or manage your travel.

The new policy runs 258 words, and it’s verbose, confusing, and seems a bit short-sighted.

For one, United is the tech-forward carrier. (It unquestionably has the best tech of any U.S. airline.) So I’m surprised it’s the first major airline to ban AI agents.

Plus, AI agents seem to be here to stay. In some ways, this move echoes how airlines reacted to the rise of online travel agencies years ago. (They’ve since done whatever they can to get you to book direct.)

My understanding from industry sources is that two things are driving this move:

For now, I’d file this under developing — and I wouldn’t connect an AI agent to your MileagePlus account. If I were a betting man, I’d say United will eventually relax these rules.

Say hello to JetBlue’s latest (and long-overdue) bet: first class.

I just toured BlueFirst, JetBlue’s new domestic first-class product, ahead of its launch next month.

There’s a lot to love — and some big downsides, including:

That said, the product itself is supremely comfortable, with a few fun twists.

Plus, fares start at $249, and Mosaic elites are eligible for free upgrades when seats are unsold.

We just added a new member to the family, but it’s not the one you’re thinking of.

It’s HomeView, Apple’s new smart home hub and the first product in an entirely new line for the tech giant.

I took it for a spin before it hit stores today. I found it cute, fun, and helpful in the kitchen.

That said, this $299 first-gen device isn’t perfect. I ran into a few hiccups when I tried using it on a travel day.

My second trip to JFK was to hear from American’s relatively new chief commercial officer, Nat Pieper.

Personally, I call him the chief transformation officer since he’s spearheading American’s premium transformation: new and retrofitted planes, expanded lounges, Starlink, and more.

I’ve chatted with him several times since he took the job. This time, he talked about how American’s network is evolving in two key cities: Los Angeles and Chicago.

Both are critical for loyalty and cobranded credit card revenue, so I’m not shocked that Pieper’s team has a new strategy for L.A.: Win the local market (once all the terminal construction is complete).

American is adding service and retiming flights to the biggest destinations from L.A. It’s the same playbook that’s worked for American at LaGuardia.

In Chicago, American has been locked in a bitter fight with United for dominance. “We aren’t going anywhere,” Pieper said. Like in L.A., he’s focused on winning the local market there (and its corporate travel spend).

Last week, Singapore Airlines unveiled its new flagship first- and business-class cabins.

The new first class looks the part for one of the world’s leading airlines. On the other hand, business class is controversial.

The seat itself is a big improvement in my book. (It fixes the cramped footwell and does away with the current seat’s flip-over bed.)

The controversy is over the finishes. Frequent flyers say they lack Singapore’s distinctive design DNA.

I don’t necessarily mind the gray-and-yellow look — I care way more about seat comfort than aesthetics. But when I first saw the seats, I immediately thought they didn’t fit the Singapore brand. (BMW Designworks designed the seat to be inspired by race cars.)

Now, a week later, Singapore is rethinking its decision, according to its CEO.

Whenever I post about upcoming credit card lounges, one question comes up more than any other: Why is Chicago never on the list?

It’s a fair question. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is by far the busiest U.S. airport without a credit card-branded lounge.

In fact, only two of the 10 busiest U.S. airports lack one: Chicago and Orlando.

The good news? It’s not for lack of trying, and I expect that to change in the coming years.

Here are the three big reasons O’Hare doesn’t have one yet:

Semi-private carrier JSX (fun fact: the first carrier worldwide to install Starlink) just announced a Northeast expansion, adding service to the Boston area.

JSX flies from private FBOs (fixed base operators), so you skip the chaos of the main terminal. It also charges a hefty premium for its first-class-style recliners.

In Boston, it’ll fly from Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED), with service to Teterboro Airport (TEB) from $199 and to Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) from $599.

JSX seems to be doing well in the New York area, where it flies from Teterboro and Westchester County Airport (HPN). I’m curious how Boston plays out, though.

After all, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is one of the country's most convenient airports, so it’s not like Bedford saves you that much time if you’re going into the city. (If you live in Boston’s wealthy suburbs, Bedford could be much closer.)

I picked up my iPhone Duo on my flight this week, and when I unlocked it, a green “Switched to this iPhone” notification appeared at the top of the screen.

Most people have never seen that notification. It’s part of a powerful new feature that automatically switches your phone number between two iPhones.

It’s called iPhone Handoff, and it lets your number live on two devices.

I could see this being a huge help for travelers who carry separate work and personal phones — or people like me who just carry two phones.

Setup takes all of 60 seconds.

In the U.S., it’s available on T-Mobile for $5 a month, and it’s coming to Verizon by the end of the year for $10 a month.

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