Kelly Shea Travels

10/16/2026

United Airlines is making a big change to how its frequent flyers earn elite status.

Beginning in 2027, the carrier will stop counting the number of flights its MileagePlus members take when awarding status.

Instead, United flyers hoping to become “Premier” will have to focus solely on accumulating Premier Qualifying Points, or "PQPs."

That means the path to status on United involves spending as much money as possible — both on flights and on the airline’s suite of cobranded credit cards.

That's not the only change United announced.

On top of shifting how MileagePlus members earn status, the Chicago-based carrier announced it’s raising the requirements to reach 1K.

Beginning in 2027, members will need an additional 4,000 PQPs (for a total of 32,000) to make top-tier status compared to the current requirements.

United revealed those changes in a memo to loyalty members on Tuesday.

All told, it’s the second significant shake-up to the airline’s loyalty program in 2026 — and the biggest structural shift in how it awards elite status in years.

Here’s what to know and what it means for flying United in 2027. Kelly Shea

United will stop counting the number of flights its MileagePlus members take and instead require them to focus on spending-based PQPs for status.

10/16/2026

Rooted in the belief that the journey is as extraordinary as the destination, each itinerary invites guests to embrace a slower, more immersive way of travelling, where the rhythm of the train, the changing views beyond the windows and the pleasure of the passage become an essential part of the experience. Virtuoso Travel Belmond Kelly Shea

La Dolce Vita Orient Express announces a new collection of Italian journeys for 2027, expanding its portfolio with itineraries connecting some of the country's most celebrated destinations: spanning vineyards, historic cities, Mediterranean coastlines and rolling countryside, the new routes offer a....

10/16/2026

Across the British capital, the corridors of power are being opened up to travelers. A landmark conversion near Buckingham Palace illustrates the challenges and opportunities. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

Across the British capital, the corridors of power are being opened up to travelers. A landmark conversion near Buckingham Palace illustrates the challenges and opportunities.

10/15/2026

Delta's updated Delta One experience at first will be available beginning Nov. 3 on transoceanic Delta One routes departing Los Angeles, with expansion to the full global network in early 2027, according to the carrier.

Further, for customers booking the Delta VIP Select airport concierge service, the carrier has expanded its partnership with Porsche to offer 70 hybrid vehicles, up from 40, across 15 key airports and hubs by 2028.

In the spring, the carrier announced it would add new suites in 2027 for the Delta One cabin.

Delta executives confirmed that the first retrofitted aircraft with the new Delta One suites is scheduled to be delivered in April and put into service shortly thereafter. The first Airbus A350-1000 with the new suites also is scheduled for delivery in April and will be in service by the second half of 2027. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel Delta Air Lines

Delta will offer new dining, beverages and amenities in its long-haul business class.

10/13/2026

Pay in Euros - Don’t Pay in US Dollars When You Use Your Credit Card In Europe -

People ask me this all the time and I also need a reminder. When a European restaurant, hotel, or ATM asks whether you want to pay in dollars or local currency, my recommendation is to choose local currency.

Seeing the price in dollars may feel reassuring, but that convenience often comes with an exchange-rate markup. Visa advises declining the merchant’s conversion to avoid that added cost. In Italy, choose euros and let your card issuer handle the conversion. Also check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee, because that is a separate expense. A little attention at checkout can leave more money for your next great meal! Kelly Shea

10/13/2026

U.S. airlines have been making headlines lately with their newly announced nonstop flights to destinations throughout Europe. Now, one lesser-known French airline is getting in on the action. All-business-class La Compagnie runs three direct routes to Europe, all from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), to Milan Malpensa (MXP), Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), and Paris Orly (ORY). Starting next spring, it’s adding a rather unexpected fourth: Düsseldorf Airport in Germany (DUS).

When it launches on April 21, 2027, the new route will be the only direct flight between Düsseldorf and North America. Up to five flights per week will take off from Newark at 9 p.m., arriving in Düsseldorf the next day at 10:20 a.m. for a total flight time of approximately 7 hours and 20 minutes. The return flight is about 8 hours and 40 minutes, departing at noon and landing at 2:45 p.m. The Düsseldorf flights are currently available for booking and start at about $3,800 round-trip. Kelly Shea Travels

French airline La Compagnie, which flies aircraft with only business-class seats, is adding a new route to its network.

10/13/2026

ALL ABOARD!!! Once the rolling office of a Canadian National Railway executive, the restored 1959 Head of the Lakes now carries private groups from Duluth. Kelly Shea

Once the rolling office of a Canadian National Railway executive, the restored 1959 Head of the Lakes now carries private groups from Duluth, with a bar, Starlink, and an open-air back porch facing the tracks.

10/07/2026

"In this special edition of Andrea Grisdale’s Italian Routes, Andrea explores three connected expressions of the Orient Express brand in Italy. Beginning at Orient Express Venezia, continuing aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express and concluding at Orient Express La Minerva in Rome, the journey becomes a seamless, interconnected story of Italian luxury, shaped by movement, ceremony, exquisite craftsmanship and the evolving art of hospitality."

If this is the trailer, we can't wait to see the movie!! Virtuoso Travel IC Bellagio Kelly Shea Kelly Shea Travels

From the elegance of the hotels to the rhythm of life aboard the train, Andrea discovers how heritage is being carried forward without standing still. Through design, service, gastronomy and the people who bring each experience to life, this special edition captures the energy, elegance and experience of luxury travel in motion, inviting travelers to experience the art of “living beautifully” with Orient Express.

Discover Orient Express in Italy with Andrea Grisdale, from the elegance of its hotels in Venice and Rome to the experience of traveling aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express.

10/06/2026

Such great news for our industry, Jon is an icon. Gives me more faith in CV! Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

Classic said Jon Bennett will "further develop Classic's luxury offering, working alongside advisors to create highly personalized journeys."

10/05/2026

For U.S. passport applicants, the days of tracking down photo booths and waiting in endless lines at the post office are almost over.

Currently, first-time passport applicants must submit printed documents in person at a passport acceptance facility such as a post office, a courthouse or a library. Adults renewing their passports can typically do so online.

Minors will still need to apply for their first passports in person, the State Department said in an email on Wednesday, explaining, “Passport applications for children under the age of 16 require additional safeguards.”

Mr. Rubio said the department’s goal was to have “the vast majority of Americans” be able to apply for a passport online by the end of 2027. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

The process of getting a first U.S. passport will go fully online next year, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, so if your picture is bad, it’ll be your fault.